Thank you for inviting me to join you in honoring the firefighters who lost their lives trying to save others on September 11.
Life as we knew it changed for good on that morning just 19 days ago. A horrific nightmare of death and destruction was unleashed by international terrorists. Our national sense of security was shattered. And the illusion of invincibility we'd come to expect with U.S. citizenship was redefined forever by an inconceivable, modern-day assault.
I think I speak for all of us when I say the countless stories of gut-wrenching sorry and human suffering will linger in our hearts and minds for the rest of our lives. Part of what sustains us in our grief are the stories that are mixed in ? the stories of heroism, courage, sacrifice, and bravery. No one better represents that heroism than New York City's firefighters.
At nine o'clock in the morning of September 11, after the first plane hit, firefighters all over New York City raced toward the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Firefighters just getting off their shifts and those just going on duty jumped on the trucks. Retirees and men on medical leave who happened to be around the station houses joined them. One group of firefighters even commandeered a crosstown bus to get to the site.
Every firefighter at the scene, more than 500 people, went directly into the most dangerous conditions they'd ever seen. They did so without hesitation. It was their job. And they had the courage to rush up the stairwells of skyscrapers when everyone else was rushing to get out. They did this to save the lives of others, of people they didn't even know. They put the safety and well-being of others ahead of their own. More than 300 of these brave and selfless Americans are now gone. So many fire department commanders were lost that Mayor Giuliani had to promote 168 new officers.
I applaud the leadership demonstrated by the Iowa Firemen's Association in holding this memorial service today. The week after the terrorist attacks I made a trip to New York City along with about 40 other senators. We went there to show our support for the rescue and recovery workers and for the families and loved ones of the victims. We saw smoke and fires still burning. The air was acrid. And the pile of rubble you see on TV is only what's above ground. There are another five stories below.
It was the kind of devastation and loss of life I hope I never see again. But amid the wreckage, we also saw hope. We saw firefighters in their uniforms covered from head to toe with dust and debris, searching for survivors. Tireless police officers, rescue personnel, and iron workers continued working to protect us.
There's no doubt that America looked evil right in the eye on September 11. New generations of Americans have learned the price of defending freedom. And the New York City firefighters were on the front lines of our new war on terror. They fought the first battle.
Now we must honor them with our resolve. The terrorist tried to sabatoge the American soul. But they succeeded only in strengthening our commitment to each other and the principles that make America the greatest place on Earth to call home: freedom, liberty and justice. Victory against these agents of terror won't be won overnight. It will require even more sacrifice. As we fight this war, we all need to stay united around the cultural, philosophical and social ties that link us together.
By doing so we can pass along the American spirit to our children and grandchildren. We can make sure they inherit freedom, not fear. Just as the brave firefighters in New York City acted without hesitation when terrorist struck their city, now it is our turn as individuals to rally and stay the course as the world seeks to eradicate terrorism.