September 16, 2001

My fellow Americans, Mississipians, Jones Countians...We are gathered here on this sad, sad day to honor the Public Safety Professionals, men and women, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters,,,HERO's,,,who on September 11, 2001, in noble performance of their duties, had their lives taken from them in the most cowardly act of terriorism ever perpetrated on American soil.

In this great United States of America when the going gets tough, we call the Public Safety Professionals. Trained and dedicated people. People who are more than a faceless 911 call, more than uniforms, badges, fire hose and medical jump kits. Public Safety Professionals are sons and daughters, husbands and wives. They have children at home, families, friends, hopes and dreams, faces and names. Yet, when the call comes, and it does, Public Safety Professionals do not hesitate to respond. Often times with little or no regard for their own personal safety they charge head-on into disaster and chaos in the hope of protecting property and saving lives. So many times,,,they sacrifice their own lives so that others may live.

On September 11, 2001 the resolve of this Great Nation was tested. Terrible tragedy and massive loss of innocent lives occurred. When the call came, Law Enforcement, Fire, Emergency Management and Emergency Medical Service Professionals responded. In a matter of minutes, over 400 of them would perish.

To those in this world who would forget, make no mistake about it, this is AMERICA, One Nation, Under GOD, Indivisible, proud home of the FREE and the BRAVE. You may fill our eyes with tears, but you will never blind us to our God. You may break our hearts, but you will never break our spirit. You may knock our buildings down, but our nation will not fall. You have started the battle. You will lose the war.

I say to our fallen brothers and sisters, who can no longer offer a hand of hope and help, who can no longer offer understanding and compassion for the weak and the weary, who can no longer heal the hurt and the dying, who will no longer return home to your families, to be mommy and daddy, sons or duaghters,,,,go and rest with God, and rest assured, you will be missed. Rest assured, you will live on in the lives of those you leave behind, and those who carry on the rescue you started. Rest assured, you will not be forgotten. Rest assured, high and safe in the wings of Angels, for your work on earth is done.

May God Bless You and keep you, and may God Bless America.