Dear Residents -
On Wednesday, I was honored to speak at the Tappan Fire Department 9/11 Memorial Service, and share with you here a copy of my remarks:
I want to thank the Tappan Fire Department for hosting this ceremony, and all of you for being here this morning. This is my 5th year as Town Supervisor speaking at a 9-11 ceremony and I think it is so important for us to come together every year, as a community, to honor those who lost their lives as the result of the 9-11 attacks; to show support for those who are currently fighting a 9-11 illness; and to live up to our collective promise to never forget.
However, for me, this year’s anniversary has taken on a new significance – one born out of what is happening around our country right now. Watching American flags being burned, historic monuments and statues being destroyed, and Americans harassing other Americans because of their religion or political beliefs.
It makes me think about how we all came together as Americans in the days and weeks following the attacks; it was a silver lining in what was an otherwise painful, tragic time in our history.
But following the attacks, we showed love and support for one another and the families of the victims; we held candlelight vigils and prayed together; and we proudly flew our American flags – so much so that stores ran out of them.
So how can it be that only 23 years later we are seeing American flags being burned on college campuses? Worse yet, it is often being done in support of a terrorist organization that is no different than the one that attacked us on 9-11.
Make no mistake, on this 9-11 anniversary, that there are outside sources responsible for this. Those looking to take away our freedoms, destroy our American values and the way of life that we treasure so much. We are, once again, under attack – and while it may be a different kind of attack, it is just as real and as consequential.
The goal is to divide us and sow hate – Republican versus Democrat, Christian versus Jew, black versus white, I could go on and on.
So, the question is, how do we get back to post 9-11, when the song “Proud to be an American” was played everywhere because it captured America’s feeling after the attacks?
I don’t know the answer but, to start, we need to reject the division that is being thrust upon us; we need to come together as Americans; we need to again get out our American flags and fly them even higher; we need to send a message loud and clear to those looking to destroy our way of life that we will not let them.
Let’s make it another legacy of 9-11, that we will always be a country that is One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
On this day, I always want to thank our police officers, firefighters, EMTs and all first responders for the work they do every day. To those who are here this morning, thank you! You are very much appreciated.
And, on that note, may God Bless America and please remember to fly that American flag high and proud.
Regards,
|