President Barack Obama delivered a heartfelt and emotional speech outside the Pentagon on Sunday, September 11, in honor of the thousands of lives lost in the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
Addressing in a 10-minute oration those who lost loved ones 15 years ago, Obama said, “It is a great honor, once again, to be with you on this day, a day that I know is still difficult, but which reveals the love and faithfulness in your hearts and in the heart of our nation.”
“We remember and we will never forget the nearly 3,000 beautiful lives taken from us so cruelly, including 184 men, women and children here — the youngest, just 3 years old,” he continued. “We honor the courage of those who put themselves in harm’s way to save people they never knew. We come together in prayer and in gratitude for the strength that has fortified us across these 15 years. And we renew the love and the faith that binds us together as one American family.”
With the American flag flying at half-staff behind him, Obama offered sincere condolences to the families of those killed in the nation’s deadliest terror attack.
“Fifteen years may seem like a long time, but for the families who lost a piece of their heart that day, I imagine it can seem like just yesterday,” POTUS said. “Perhaps it’s the memory of the last kiss given to a spouse, or the last goodbye to a mother or father, a sister or brother. We wonder how their lives might’ve unfolded, how their dreams might’ve taken shape. And I’m mindful that no words we offer or deeds we do can ever truly erase the pain of their absence. And yet you, the survivors and families of 9/11, your steadfast love and faithfulness has been an inspiration to me and our entire country.”
He continued, “There is nothing, as Americans, that we cannot overcome. The question before us, as always, is how do we preserve the legacy of those we lost? How do we live up to their example? And how do we keep their spirit alive in our own hearts? We’ve seen the answer in a generation of Americans. Our men and women in uniform, diplomats, intelligence, Homeland Security and law enforcement professionals, all who have stepped forward to serve and who have risked and given their lives to keep us safe.”
Earlier on Sunday, Obama observed a moment of silence at the White House at 8:46 a.m. ET, which was when the first of four hijacked airplanes crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in NYC 15 years ago.
