U.S. Senator Katie Britt Commemorates 25th Anniversary of 9/11 at Montgomery Fire/Rescue Ceremony Honoring Fallen Firefighters

MONTGOMERY, AL — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today spoke at a 9/11 memorial service hosted by Montgomery Fire/Rescue. The event honored the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001, as well as the 15 Montgomery firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty while protecting their community. Senator Britt’s remarks can be read in full below. “Thank you so much for that introduction and for the ability and invitation to be here today. To all of you who answer the call each and every day, I’m going to echo the mayor’s comments and say thank you. Thank you for your selflessness. Thank you for your willingness to sacrifice. And I want to say thank you to your families. “This morning, as I reflected on what happened 25 years ago, I thought about where I was. I was in a class in Mary Alston Hall at the University of Alabama. It’s a large lecture setting. We didn’t have the connectivity that we have now, so people were piecing together what was happening in real time. I remember the helplessness that we felt, the uncertainty, the anger, the confusion as we worked to kind of piece together what happened and went back and got in front of the TV. “One of the images that I will never forget are the men and women in uniform running towards the danger. I think about how many families lives changed that day. This morning, I got my two children up at 4:30 AM, got them out the door, and to the airport at 5:15. There were so many men and women whose day started just like that 25 years ago, who sent their loved ones out the door and thought they’d have an opportunity to see them again. It wasn’t just their lives that changed our world changed on that day. “The one thing I hope we all take away from that, though, is the spirit of this nation, of who we are, who we are together. When we stand tall in the face of adversity, there is no mountain too tall for us to climb. There is no challenge too difficult for us to face. “I think about these 15 helmets in front of us, and the men and women who have lost their lives in this community answering that call. What a tremendous debt of gratitude we owe each and every one of you. As I look in front of us, you have chosen to run towards the danger. You have chosen to operate in the impact zone so that more of us can return home safely to our families, so that our communities can be stronger. And you do that with resiliency and courage and grit and an unwavering dedication to your purpose. “I had an opportunity to tour the new fire station, and mayor, it is quite nice. Walking around and seeing the facility was really impactful, but what I left with that made an even greater impact was the brotherhood that I felt when I was in that building. There is no doubt that you have each other’s backs. Thank you for doing that. What I left with was an even greater resolve that you have ours. “I want to say thank you. When the moms and dads were taking their children at night to the men and women who are leaving to go off to work, to what they think will be an ordinary day if something were to occur, we know that you have our back. We know that you will run towards the impact zone, and we know that that courage and that faithfulness that you exhibit is unwavering. “As we look at what’s ahead both in this community and the state, in the nation. I hope that we will remember the resiliency that we felt that day and then the days after 9/11. I hope that we will take that resiliency, that purpose, that unity, and that fortitude with us today and forever. “Let us not just remember it here at this event, but let’s also tell the next generation. For those of us who have stories about where we were that day, about what it felt like, about the impact and the way that it changed our world, let’s make sure that the next generation knows that as well. Let’s make sure that they’re committed to the ideals of freedom and liberty. That they’re committed to the ideals and purpose that make this nation so great, and that they’re committed to being a part of answering the call. “Thank you for what you do. Thank you for your selfless sacrifice. And let us all remember those that are lost and the resiliency that we feel about moving ahead. Thank you.” ###