Good morning.
A very sad morning of rememberence. Yet, highly important to do so. Personally, I don't have direct knowledge of any of the victims of 9/11 but I do have inspiration from the civic kindred spirit of the tragedy. The same inspiration that others felt when our nation has been attacked throughout history. "Remember the Maine", "Remember the Lusitania", "Remember Pearl Harbor", you could even go back to Fort Sumpter and Lexington/Concord/Boston.
National pride is more than just the luck of being born somewhere, when that place is the USA. Sure, we did win the 'Birth Lottery', but due to actions taken by our fellow citizens after circumstances beyond their control, you have an understanding that there are very few places where the people will respond to answer in percentages that Americans will. These empathies are unique to a population where civic liberties are accepted as the norm. The people want to protect those freedoms. The oppressed don't have as much reason to care. I am proud of the actions of all our people, to preserve what has been earned and fought for over 200 years.
May God bless all those we've lost and all those that place, and have placed that protection for us from those that wish us harm, over their own possible health and safety. Those are special people to be remembered daily.
(And now, our speaker falls off his stump.) 