Good morning.
As Department of Justice employees, we are part of a network of civil servants and uniformed soldiers who defend and protect American life and liberty – and I am very proud of the work we do to prevent attacks like those on September 11th, 2001.
But on this anniversary, this morning, we are also, simply, Americans. We are patriots who are remembering our brothers and sisters who died on that terrible morning.
Henry James wrote that "sorrow comes in great waves… but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us it leaves us on the spot and we know that if it is strong we are stronger, in as much as it passes and we remain."
We realize today that we are, in fact, stronger than the sorrow, and we are unquestionably stronger than our enemies who brought that sorrow upon us.
While we will never forget, we will not be afraid… and we will never give up the fight for our country, the defense of our cherished freedom.
I am reminded, today, of what the President said on the first anniversary of the attacks. He said that we, as a country, owe the families of September 11th "the most enduring monument we can build: a world of liberty and security made possible by the way America leads, and by the way Americans lead our lives."
I believe that each and every employee here at Justice is part of building that monument – and you should be proud of your efforts, especially on this day of remembrance.
We seek to prevent further attacks and to ultimately win the war on terror. We do it so that "these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
Please join me in a moment of silence.
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