Congressman Boehner Remembers 9/11

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, Members of Congress will take part in a Remembrance Ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to mark the 12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) will make the following remarks, as prepared for delivery:

“A reading from the Book of Isaiah:

“‘The Lord is God from of old. He does not faint or grow weary. … Though young men faint and grow weary … they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength … they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.’

“That word – ‘weary’ – has been used a great deal of late. But if you think about the men and women we honor at this hour: the fear they endured and cast off, the love they wished to be remembered for, the instinct to lock arms and help the person next to them, the bravery it took to run up those stairwells and charge that cockpit, the prayers they whispered together.

“The last word that comes to mind is ‘weary.’

“Yes, we have been through the crucible, and we live in a dangerous world. But from the fallen – and from all who have sacrificed so that we may live free – we can take heart that ours is the greatest cause and the work before us is not above our capacity or beyond our strength. After all, we are Americans.

“This moment is for us to pray for the families of the departed … to ask God to renew our strength and replenish our grace. So that we may press on and serve without growing weary, and walk without growing faint towards that more perfect union of our founders’ dreams.

“That is why we return to these steps. That is why we will always return. That is why we will never forget.”