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Blog Post

Remembering 9/11

The Department of Justice is marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks today and throughout the weekend with a number of events.

This morning department employees gathered together in the Great Hall for a shared moment of silence led by Attorney General Holder.

This morning, as we reflect on the profound sacrifices and contributions of the many law enforcement officers and military service members who have risen to the challenge of securing our nation over the last decade – let us also reaffirm the enduring legacy of those we have lost: a nation that is not only safer, but stronger, than ever before...Let us carry on their unfinished work and strive – in their honor – to promote, not only safety and security, but also peace – and, above all, justice.   And – as we leave this place today – let us do everything in our power to ensure that – in our own time, in the lives of our children, and in the work of future generations – the stories, the memories, and the rich legacies of those we lost on September 11th will never be forgotten.

Finally, this afternoon, the Attorney General joined current and former Department of Justice employees for the Department of Justice 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony. 

On September 11th, 2001, when those towers were reduced to rubble – along with the western side of the Pentagon, and a patch of land in rural Pennsylvania – and as so many lives were cut short – we learned, in the most painful of ways, about the human capacity for evil.   But in the moments, months, and years since, we have seen – in the compassion and generosity of people across the world – the human capacity for good.   We also have witnessed our nation’s ability to transform sorrow into strength, into unity, into resiliency – and into a nationwide call to service... ...Despite all that was lost and destroyed on September 11th – when I think back on that terrible day, these are the qualities that shine through – at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, and in the skies above Shanksville, Pennsylvania.   These are the defining attributes that brought our nation together – and will continue to make this country an example of strength.  Since America’s earliest days – even in the darkest of moments – the citizens of this country have proven that – no matter the challenge, no matter the obstacle, no matter the differences that, at times, can divide us from one another – we are, and always will be, one nation.   One people.   Conceived in liberty; dedicated to the highest ideals of justice; and striving – always – to carry forward the difficult but essential work of building a more perfect union.

Former Solicitor General Ted Olson, and 9/11 family members and victim advocates, Carie Lemack and Major Abraham Scott, also spoke at the event. On Sunday, September 11, 2011, Attorney General Holder will join President Obama and other Cabinet members at Ground Zero where they will honor the men, women and children whose lives were abruptly ended on that autumn day. To learn more about how the Department of Justice is remembering 9/11 and how we continue to remain vigilant to protect Americans and the American way of life, visit justice.gov/911

Updated March 3, 2017