Today we are not black, white, Hispanic, or Asian. Today we are not New Yorkers, Floridians, Texans, Californians, or Georgians. Today we are not just Vietnamese, German, Colombian, Indian, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Jamaican, Italian, or Irish. Today we are Americans. And we set aside our differences- be it ethnicity, accent, color, or geographic region- to hold the hands of the 3,000 families that lost mothers, brothers, sons, grandpa’s, granddaughters, best friends, and neighbors in the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. And today we honor the brave police officers, firefighters, and our men and women in the military who have given their lives on September 11th and throughout our resulting wars to protect our country. Rest in peace. You were brave. You were courageous. You will NEVER be forgotten.

Today we are not black, white, Hispanic, or Asian. Today we are not New Yorkers, Floridians, Texans, Californians, or Georgians. Today we are not just Vietnamese, German, Colombian, Indian, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Jamaican, Italian, or Irish. Today we are Americans. And we set aside our differences- be it ethnicity, accent, color, or geographic region- to hold the hands of the 3,000 families that lost mothers, brothers, sons, grandpa’s, granddaughters, best friends, and neighbors in the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

And today we honor the brave police officers, firefighters, and our men and women in the military who have given their lives on September 11th and throughout our resulting wars to protect our country.

Rest in peace. You were brave. You were courageous. You will NEVER be forgotten.