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Pelosi Remarks
at Congressional 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
September
11, 2003
Washington,
D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke today at the
Congressional 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on the West Front Terrace
of the U.S. Capitol. Below are her remarks.
'We
are brought together, in this place, by our love of country, by
our admiration of exalted character, by our gratitude for signal
services and patriotic devotion.'
"These were
the words spoken by Daniel Webster two centuries ago at the dedication
of the monument at Bunker Hill. And they are words that capture the
spirit that brings us here today. Two years removed from that terrible
morning, we are brought together in this place by our love of country
in a national day of prayer and remembrance.
 "We
remember the 'exalted character' of men and women whose lives were
shattered in an instant, but whose memory is etched forever in the
hearts of loved ones and the history of a nation. And we pray for
their families -- the unbearable loss, the pain that endures, the
grief that knows no end.
"We remember
the 'signal services' of citizens who became heroes -- who risked
their lives so that others might live. Indeed, we stand here today
mindful that we might not be doing so were it not for the courage
of heroes we never met.
"And we
remember the 'patriotic devotion' of all those who have answered
their country’s call, and who have given the 'last full measure
of their devotion.'
"But we
must do more than simply remember them. We must honor them by building
a future, a world, and a nation worthy of their sacrifice. And so
in their name, we pledge again: United as a country, we will seek
out and hold responsible those who attacked us two years ago. And
united as country, we will keep alive the spirit of September 11th
as displayed in the final courageous moments of the lives we remember
today:
"A spirit
where strangers help strangers -- where we ask what we can do for
our country and for each other; a spirit where we look at each other
not by race or religion or creed or orientation, only as Americans;
and a spirit where we truly are 'one nation, under God, indivisible.'
"May God
grant eternal peace to those lost, and strength and grace to their
families. And may God continue to bless America."
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