When we visit the memory of 9 11, we thread on sacred ground. 13 years ago the world watched on a clear Tuesday Morning as we suffered loss we could not possibly have imagined and witnessed heroism we will never forget. Today, we come together once more in reverence to those sacred memories, to help consecrate those Sacred Places where so many lives were lost and so many were saved. Were honored to have the secretary of the interior here, representative hoyer, president of the firefighters, my fire chief from california, so many distinguished guests who have sacrificed so much for our country, including max cleeland. Its so nice to be here with senator casey and representative shuster, the representatives of one of the areas so affected and with our speaker, mr. Boehner. Thank you for making this occasion possible, mr. Speaker, and with leader reid. Leader mcconnell. I think we will all agree that as many ceremonies that we may participate in, this is singular in terms of how deeply rooted our sorrow is and how broad our respect is for our heroes. Again, in the very center of our democracy in this capitol, we bestow these congressional gold medals to our memorials in new york, in pennsylvania and across the potomac as the sign of the neverending commitment of the heroes of that day today we present those medals to the president , Joseph Daniels of the National September 11 memorial and museum in new york in recognition of the men and women who rushed up the stairs and into the smoke among many other acts of heroism. To gordon, president of families of flight 93 and recognition of passenger and crew who passengers and crew who charged up the aisle. To james, president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund in recognition of those serving our country. With these medals, we honor the heroism of the First Responders and ordinary citizens. We celebrate them in that capacity but also we remember them as husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, families and friends. We remember the perseverance of the loved ones they left behind and the advocacy of the 9 11 families who turned their grief into action to make our nation safer. As senator casey referenced. President lincoln once cautioned of the silent artillery of time wearing away our memories. We pray that the years might ease the pain of the bereefed but never let time berieved but never let time lessen. Because of their acts and deeds of millions of americans, we found hope in the face of despair, strength in the wake of fear, unity in the shadow of loss. Today, we renew our vow time shall not dim the memory of our Fallen Heroes. Their courage add luster to these awards, for we know their deeds will shine forever. Let their lives be a blessing to their beloved. Let them inspire greater compassion and humanity, let us resolve in their name that this date marked by terror will belong to bravery. God has truly blessed america with our Fallen Heroes of 9 11. May god continue to bless the United States of america. Thank you. \[applause] ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the United States senate, the honorable mitch mcconnell. [applause] none of us will forget where we were that morning or the horrible things we saw. The explosions that melted steel and shattered symbols of our prosperity and our might. Tools of commerce and transport used for brutal and homicidal ends, the people, the loss, the despair, these things we have never been able to forget. And yet thats not all we saw on that saddest of september mornings. Amid the horror and the tragedy there was something else, something more powerful. In the heart of a great city, strangers rushed to help strangers sprinting toward smoke and chaos, ignoring the danger to themselves. We heard stories of heroes returning once more to the swirling tempest of paper and glass, searching for others to help. At the edge of the nations capitol, colleagues became comrades reaching amid the flames and confusion. And high above the clouds, stories of bravery and revolt, courage that did more than just save buildings like this one or the ideals it represents but countless lives. These are the 9 11 Fallen Heroes. First responders, civilians, passengers and crew and so many others. They did not ask to be heroes. They did not wake that day with dreams of glory. But when history intervened, they acted. And unlike the hijackers who plotted to take lives, those heroes sacrificed to save them. The thousands of men and women who perished on september 11 did not die in vain. Their memories served and still serves as a Unifying Force for our nation. Whether by the inspiration of our their bravery or the brutal way their lives were taken, their memories stirred americans to even more acts of selflessness from joining rescue efforts to raising their hands in defense of freedom. In manhattan and shanksville and at the pentagon, weve erected memorials to honor them. And today with these three medals we commemorate every man, every woman who perished that day with the highest civilian award that congress can bestow. To the families gathered here, i know the wounds can never truly be healed, but never forget that your country stands with you and that we will never stop honoring the memory of the heroes we remember today. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the majority leader of the United States senate, the honorable harry reid. [applause] senator mcconnell mentioned we all remember where we were that morning. I remember. I was assistant leader. Leader daschle called a Leadership Meeting we had every tuesday at 9 00 in the morning. I was the first to come to that room, s211, and john came in, senator from louisiana, said turn on the tv. Something is going on in new york. We flipped on the tv and we said, what happened . Plane must have been misguided in the building. And we thought it was just a news story. This it wouldnt amount to much. And so people started coming in for the meeting. Conference table there in that room, s211, and senator daschle started the meeting. Within just a short period of time, matter of five minutes, six minutes, couple people came into the room, took him out of the room and he came back immediately and said we got to evacuate this room, the building. Theres a plane headed for us. As i walked out of that, ill never forget as i walked out of the room, look out the window, we could see the smoke billoing from the pentagon. Billowing from the pentagon. Thats the day ill never forget. We were all very anxious and afraid that day, concerned about what we didnt know, afraid of what we did know. The day ended with everyone coming back senators coming back to the capitol, democrats, republicans and assembled on the capitol steps. Without anyone giving speeches, we were there just to dignify the occasion, letting everyone know how much we cared about what we thought had happened. And barbara mikulski, who has such a powerful voice in that small stature she has. She said, well sing god bless america, the same song we heard today. That brought back such memories. And we did. Those of us that cant sing sang. Those that could sing sang. And it was something well always remember. Ill always remember. Images of that morning will always stay with me. The shock, the horror, the uncertain i felt that day will be forever etched in my heart. Today as we bestow the congressional medal of honor on the Fallen Heroes of september 11, those memories will be with us. But even in the midst of heartwrenching memories, were reminded of the heroism that day. Ours is a nation started, settled and strengthened by heroes. Those who answer the call of duty and those who are called without notice has happened. There were so many who answered that call of duty that day. Those souls who answered the call that morning left us with a legacy of bravery we cannot fully fathom, explain. No monument can express our true appreciation. No memorial can convey the magnitude of their courage. Our forever gratitude is the only tribute that will suffice. So what we must do is remember their suffice sacrifice, the ultimate price they paid for our freedom. I believe the heroism and sacrifice we witnessed on september 11, 2001, will forever be in our hearts, in our minds and in our nations history. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the United States house of representatives, the honorable john boehner. [applause] in a few minutes, well have the presentation of the gold medals. First, let me thank my colleagues for their words and for their leadership. Now, when Congress Approves a gold medal, the work is just beginning. Each medal has its own Design Committee and in this case there were three Design Committees. The medals were then struck at the u. S. Mint in philadelphia, just blocks from independence hall. All in all, theyve done remarkable work and were truly grateful for their efforts. On behalf of the American People, we will now entrust these medals to the memorials, all of which are worthy of the people that we honor today. Here to receive the medals, Joseph Daniels, president and c. E. O. Of the National September 11 memorial and museum in new york city. Gordon felt, president of the families of flight 93. And jim, president of the 9 11 memorial fund. Please join me here on the stage. \[applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, president and c. E. O. Of the National September 11 memorial and museum in new york, mr. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, president and c. E. O. Of the National September 11 memorial and museum in new york, mr. Joseph c. Daniels. Good morning. Its truly an honor to be here today along with jim from the Pentagon Memorial Fund and gordon felt from the flight 93 National Memorial in pennsylvania, among members of the cabinet, the joint chiefs, family members of the fallen and our First Responders to accept this medal created in memory of those whose lives were taken too soon in the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001. On behalf of the 9 11 memorial and museums board of directors and staff, im truly thankful to the members of congress, many of whom are also here today, and who saw the significance of this medal and championed its production. It is also tremendously gratifying to see the number of senators and representatives that have taken the time to come visit the memorial and museum in new york. I do encourage those who have not yet made that visit to come as well, and you are always welcome. Were also fortunate that several of the memorials Board Members who are also 9 11 family members, including lee, who lost his son, firefighter lee, paula grant berry, who lost her husband, david berry, and monica ican, who also lost her husband, Michael Patrick ican, were part of the design group for this incredible medal, making it a true expression of tribute and of hope from those who were affected the most. The 9 11 memorial, since it was dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, has welcomed over 15 million visitors, and in less than four months since opening, the museum has already welcomed more than 900,000 visitors. Those numbers are important because they are a true indication of the collective and worldwide will to never forget. We are honored as an institution to place this congressional gold medal in the 9 11 Memorial Museum for our visitors from all 50 states and over 175 Different Countries to see. Several members of congress are working to ensure the history of this memorial and museum represent receive ongoing operating support. I know that along with my colleagues from the pentagon and flight 93 memorials, im tremendously gratified and grateful to see the millions of americans who are keeping our commitment to remember those killed in the attacks strong. And that we keep in the forefront of our minds and hearts what we saw on 9 11 and in its aftermath, that when the circumstances require, we can and will come together with limitless compassion. In that spirit, i thank you, again, for this wonderful tribute. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund, mr. James laychak. [applause] thank you, everyone. Id like to recognize speaker boehner, leader pelosi, leader mcconnell, senator House MajoritySenate Majority leader reid, representative shuster, senator casey, senator warner, senator mccain, congressman moran, joe daniels, gordon felt. And id like to recognize the 9 11 families, survivors and First Responders here today as well as the representatives of the Pentagon Memorial Fund. And the Pentagon Memorial FundBoard Members. Thank you, speaker boehner, for hosting the ceremony. The staff has done an outstanding job. Id also like to thank senator warner for allowing and asking the Pentagon Memorial Fund for our recommendations for individuals to serve as advisors to the u. S. Mint on the design of the gold medal for the pentagon site. Id like to especially thank our advisors, 9 11 family member, my sisterinlaw, laurie laychak, pentagon survivor and family member, kathy dilber and special agent chris coons, Arlington County fire chief jim schwartz for your valuable time and insight that has brought us all here today. 13 years ago, my brother was killed in the pentagon on 9 11, and the family members and our nation made a promise we would never forget. These congressional medals reflect that promise and will help ensure that future generations that visit the three attack sites understand the significance of that promise. The p. M. F. Was formed by 9 11 family members in three to help raise the funds needed to in 2003 to help raise the funds needed to build the memorial to ensure theres always a place to remember, reflect and renew. Dedicated in 2008, the pentagon memorial is a place of solace, where friends and families can always go to remember their loved ones. Today we are pleased to be working with the department of defense and the state of virginia for plans for a Visitors Education Center that will ensure those that did not know their loved ones or do not know about 9 11 have a place to reflect on the events of that day. Theyll also have the opportunity to learn about survivors and heroes in the pentagon and theyll learn about the response of our government and countries around the world on september 12 when nato invoked article 5 and 23 allied countries helped offer defend the United States. It is in this united and cooperative support that is important today as well as on september 11. We believe through these stories of loss, heroism, community and unity, future visitors will leave the pentagon memorial visitor Education Center with a renewed sense of hope. We look forward to prominently displaying the Fallen Heroes gold medal at the pentagon visitor Education Center as a symbol of our nations commitment to never forget and our renewed hope for the future. Thank you for this great honor. Thank you very much. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the president of the families of flight 93, mr. Gordon w. Felt. [applause] good morning. Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, speaker boehner, majority leader reid, leader mcconnell, leader pelosi, senator casey, congressman shuster, secretary jewell and those here today that may have been working in this very building 13 years ago, it is an honor to stand before you today to accept the congressional gold medal of honor on behalf of the passengers and crewmembers of united flight 93. The gravity of todays ceremony and location have greatly appreciated by the families of flight 93. On september 11, 2001, the symbolic foundations of our nation came under attack and much was lost. Chaos, uncertainty and terror threatened to break our spirit as the scourge of unprecedented evil descended upon our nation. Yet, as the world observed one of americas darkest moments and our corresponding response, stories of heroism, extraordinary resolve and american resilience shown brightly, First Responders did not run from but rather toward. Individuals that lived through these attacks selflessly worked together to survive, and our loved ones on united flight 93, armed with the knowledge that the nation, our nation was under attack, took fate into their hands and fought. In doing so they lost their lives, though in the process most likely saved this very building in which we stand today. Were it not for the people honored today with the presentation of these congressional gold medals of honor, our course of human events would be far different. Their loss, their sacrifice rekindle the spirit in all freedomloving peoples of the world that we cannot afford to lose. Our job moving forward from september 11, 2001, for these past 13 years and into the future is to remember, remember the individuals, remember their collective actions and remember who we became that fateful morning. On behalf of the families of flight 93, i thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please stand as the chaplain of the United States senate, dr. Barry black, gives the benediction. Let us pray. O god, our refuge and strength, were grateful for this opportunity to honor the Fallen Heroes of 9 11. Thank you, dear god, for p