Nation Marks Sept. 11 Anniversary

As many in the United States marked the eleventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks this morning, the Montgomery County Council observed a moment of silence.

Students and faculty at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda wore commemorative buttons. Flags around the area, including the one in the middle of a busy lunch crowd at Bethesda’s Veteran’s Park, flew at half-mast.

The significance of the events of Sept. 11 was still evident.

“Eleven years ago today, our country experienced the worst attack in our history. We lost over 3,000 men, women, and children to a senseless act of terror that changed our lives forever. Today, we remember those lives lost on that bright fall morning and all those who have given their lives in defense of our nation,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) in a prepared statement.

The rest of Van Hollen’s statement follows:

In the aftermath of those terrible attacks, our nation demonstrated the very best of the American spirit. We stood together as one country and rallied together to meet a common challenge. Much has changed since the 9/11 attacks, but our values remain the same.

As we mark this anniversary, we remember those we lost, honor the countless acts of heroism we saw that day, and recommit ourselves to the sense of unity that makes our nation great. American is a nation dedicated to freedom, and in the face of adversity we stand together.