Remembering 9/11: Quotes That Will Help Everyone ‘Never Forget’ September 11, 2001
14 years ago, the United States was rocked by an attack on 9/11 by four planes that were hijacked by al-Qaeda. Even though it is almost a decade and a half since the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001, each year, the day should be remembered for those who lost their lives and gave their lives to help others. It’s time to look at some quotes that will help us all remember, and “never forget.”
The following quotes came on the day of 9/11 and the days that followed. Some are well known, while others are those that some may have never heard before such as the “secret history” given forth by TIME.
“Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward and freedom will be defended.” – President George W. Bush
“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom.” – Rudolph W. Giuliani
“An attack on one is an attack on all.” – General Lord Robertson, NATO Secretary
“We’ll have to deal with the networks. One of the ways to do that is to drain the swamp they live in. And that means dealing not only with the terrorists, but those who harbor terrorists. This will take a long, sustained effort. It will require the support of the American people as well as our friends and allies around the world.” – Donald Rumsfeld
“Let’s roll!” – Todd Beamer, passenger on United Flight 93
Speaking of United Flight 93, a $26 million visitor complex honoring the victims of that flight was dedicated and opened to the public on Thursday. As reported by NPR, families of the victims got a preview of the memorial which is located at the plane’s crash site in Somerset County.
The memorial and museum is operated by the National Park Service and features displays and artifacts commemorating everything that happened on Sept. 11, 2001, not just the events on Flight 93. The museum does focus on the plane’s passengers though and has stories and portraits of all 40 victims.
“This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today. It is perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of human life, and we the democracies of this world are going to have to come together and fight it together.” –British Prime Minister Tony Blair
“All of a sudden there were people screaming. I saw people jumping out of the building. Their arms were flailing. I stopped taking pictures and started crying.” – Michael Walters, a freelance photojournalist in Manhattan
“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend–even a friend whose name it never knew.” – President George W. Bush
“We will win this struggle – not for glory, nor wealth, nor power, but for justice, for freedom, and for peace…so help us God.” – Tom Harkin
“You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.” – Colin Powell
“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.” – President George W. Bush
“We’re going to find out who did this and we’re going after the bastards.” – Sen. Orrin Hatch
“Remember the hours after September 11th when we came together as one to answer the attack against our homeland. We drew strength when our firefighters ran upstairs and risked their lives so that others might live; when rescuers rushed into smoke and fire at the Pentagon; when the men and women of Flight 93 sacrificed themselves to save our nation’s Capitol; when flags were hanging from front porches all across America, and strangers became friends. It was the worst day we have ever seen, but it brought out the best in all of us.” – Sen. John Kerry
“Commending the victims to almighty God’s mercy, I implore his strength upon all involved in rescue efforts and in caring for the survivors.” – Pope John Paul II
“What separates us from the animals, what separates us from the chaos, is our ability to mourn people we’ve never met.” –David Levithan
September 11 is a day that deserves to be remembered every single year, and not because of the events that took place, but because of the people — the people that are no longer with us and those that risked their lives to do what was right. These 9/11 quotes are only a small portion of what should be remembered, and it should just be a reminder of the day a country came together against a common enemy.
[Image via Getty Images – Anthony Correia]
