September 11, 2009
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON ON THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS
“Today we pause and remember a morning when the sights and sounds of horror dulled all of our senses but that of loss; a day that began with the clearest of skies, but quickly gave way to the darkest of tragedies.
“Though we stand eight years since those devastating attacks robbed us of our family members, friends and neighbors, no length of time will remove us from its infinite shadow. On September 11, 2001, we saw the worst of what misguided and malicious human beings are capable of. But miraculously, on that day, we also saw the very best of what it is to be human.
“In Lower Manhattan, firefighters and police officers and other first responders rushed toward danger to save lives. It did not matter if they would lose their own. Inside the World Trade Center, thousands of working New Yorkers tried to help their fellow tenants get out of the buildings. It did not matter if those they were helping were friends or strangers. Across New York, parents helped children get home safely. It did not matter if it was their child.
“The actions of these and other New Yorkers stand eternal. As we honor the memory of those we lost, we also pay tribute to the heroism we witnessed. This day has been declared a National Day of Service and Remembrance and I have designated this day as one for service and remembrance in New York. I encourage all to volunteer with local service organizations so that we may carry forth the spirit of service. We will continue to show the very best of what it is to be human.”
