House Proceeding on Sep 9th, 2009 :: 3:55:15 to 3:58:55
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3:55:12 to 3:55:32( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: steampting to destroy us. if we with r allies and our forces here in this country we can never be de with at i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the the gentleman from new york. mr. ackerman: i yield myself three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. mr. ackerman: thank you, mr.

3:55:15 to 3:58:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Gary L. Ackerman

3:55:33 to 3:55:54( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: speaker. i rise in strong support of the resolution and commend the majority leader and the minority leader for their good work. we have before us an excellent memorial resolution. it's succinct, strong and truly expresses what i truly believe to be the position of the entire house. as we consider this resolution, i'd suggest that every member take a minute to close their eyes, if they're in

3:55:55 to 3:56:17( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: offices, turn off the chattering of the television or the -- their staff and try to think back to september, 2001. it really was eight years ago. remember how beautiful a day that that was. perfect. clear, crisp september day with a cloudless sky. remember where you we when

3:56:18 to 3:56:40( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: you heard that our nation was under attack, when you first saw those awful images of the towers gushing black smoke and the pentagon in flames. remember the thousands of our fellow americans who perished in the world trade center and at the pentagon. remember the inconceivable heroism of the first responders who rushed into the flames and

3:56:41 to 3:57:01( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: the chaos in order to save others. remember the defiant courage of the passengers on united flight 93 who lost their lives but probably saved the most glorious symbol of our democracy in the world, the u.s. capitol, and many, many who were working here on that day. remember our shock and fury.

3:57:02 to 3:57:22( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: remember our national unity and the feeling of common purpose. remember how the whole world stood with us and shared our outrage and our agony. these memories are available to all of us if we take but that one moment. we all experienced these events and all that is needed is to take the moment, to set aside a little bit of time and let it

3:57:23 to 3:57:44( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: all come back. why? is it a morbid fascination with catastrophe? is it merely to justify some policy or exnditure? i would suggest two other reasons. first, the memory is what we owe to those who were so unjustly murdered. we cannot bring them back, and

3:57:45 to 3:58:06( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: we cannot give meaning to horrific act that took them from us. but we can remember then as our fellow americans, as people whose lives were connected to thousands of our fellow citizens who still mourn them to this very day. second, i think we should take the moment to ponder the last eight years. what have we done in response

3:58:07 to 3:58:28( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: to that day? what have we learned? what do we still owe to those and what we have used their deaths to justify? have we made the world a safer place? have we made our homeland more secure? will the next generation of americans face more or less danger because of our actions?

3:58:29 to 3:58:49( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: each of us will still have our own answers to these questions, just as each one of us remembers that awful day uniquely. i yield myself another 15 seconds. gentleman is recognized for additional 15 seconds. mr. ackerman: and this great nation which gives each person complete freedom, thought, belief and expression in which the govern choose who will

3:58:50 to 3:58:55( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: govern them, the meaning of 9/11 and the consequences of that terrible, terrible, terrible day remain for us to