Today, we remember the 23rd anniversary of September 11, 2001—a day that forever changed our nation. Nearly 3,000 innocent lives were lost in a tragic attack on our country, and each year, we come together to honor the victims, the first responders, those who still carry the scars of that day, and the families who lost someone they love.
As a New Yorker, the pain of that day is something I will never forget. But that pain was accompanied by the unity we felt as Americans, regardless of background, to comfort each other and make a commitment to protecting our values and our way of life. It’s the strength of the American people coming together that gives us the resolve to move forward, no matter the challenge we face. The events of 9/11 reshaped how we think about our safety and security, and we honor the memory of those lost by remaining vigilant in our defense of this nation and our shared values.
As your representative in Congress, I will never waiver on my commitment to our national security and ensuring that all Americans can enjoy their God-given freedoms. For nearly 250 years, our country has been the greatest in the world and a beacon of hope and freedom for all — and we must do everything we can to ensure that continues for future generations.
As President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing, and it's never more than one generation away from extinction.” America is worth fighting for, and doing so is the best way we can honor the memory of those we lost on 9/11.
While we take today to mourn a tragedy from which we will never fully heal, I hope you feel the same sense of patriotism and unity that should define us as a nation every day.
God bless you, and God bless America. |
Sincerely, |
Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy Member of Congress |