September 11, 2001 - A Day of Remembrance
(From a
Speech Delivered by Supervisor Dave Rosenberg
at the Yolo County Administration Center
one year later on September 11, 2002)
By Dave Rosenberg, Yolo County Supervisor, 4th District
People tell me that certain days are imbedded in their memory. They remember all the details on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked; on the day Germany surrendered to end World War II; on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
September 11, 2001, is just such a day. I remember early that morning I was at the Davis City Hall for one of our regular monthly meetings with my colleague Supervisor Lois Wolk and two members of the Davis City Council. One of the secretaries had her television set on as the news reports came in of the terrible, almost incomprehensible events occurring back East. I remember watching in disbelief. I remember our official government to government meeting simply never happening - it just didn't seem very important anymore.
How different our lives were on September 10th. How everything changed on September 11th.
And so we gather today here in Woodland. And the remarkable thing is, Americans are gathering all over this great country: In New York City, in Washington DC, in Tampa, Des Moines, Kansas City, Denver, Sacramento. We gather to remember and to reflect.
We remember that one year ago today over 3,000 men and women - innocents - paid a terrible price for our freedom and our way of life. We remember the evil wrought on this country by hateful people out to destroy our freedom and afraid of our way of life. We remember the horror of that day.
But we also remember the extraordinary heroism: The firefighters and cops who actually ran up the stairs of the World Trade Center as people were running out. The Marines at the Pentagon who calmly stood in the hallways directing people at the edge of panic to safe exits. The passengers on Flight 93 who, knowing that the hijackers were planning to crash their plane into an occupied building, summoned their strength and courage to fight back and probably avert an even greater horror.
At the same time, we reflect on the tragedy that was a wake up call to America. We reflect on our remarkable discovery that as Americans we are more alike than we thought. That our colors and our religions and our shapes and our genders are less important in the scheme of things than our allegiance to one Flag. We reflect on the need to be more tolerant of our differences, especially now.
As Americans we are certainly wiser today than we were one year ago. Was 9-11 a turning point? Yes, it was. We came together. We are more wary, more attuned, more resolved against a craven enemy.
And so today, on September 11th, we remember. And we will remember for the rest of our days on this Earth. And we say to the enemies of America that we are stronger today, more united, and more determined than ever. We are one Nation, under God, with Liberty and Justice for All.