i just about ruined my handkerchief. i hope to get through this. when i was thinking about what i was going to say, my thoughts are disjointed today. yesterday, and was trying to get my bearings as to where things were. i remember being at the temporary memorial so often that i had a picture of what this site was. i was standing up here on the hillside talking to someone from the national park service. i had not thought about the memorial for some time or thought about the design. she said to remember that this wall is the flight pattern.

10 years of the motion -- emotion just came rushing in as the names on the wall, those lives that were snuffed out in that brief moment have meant so much to this country. i am too young to have been around for pearl harbor. i am too young to remember where i was when john kennedy was assassinated. i will never forget that day, september 11, 2001. it was a beautiful day. we were talking about it earlier. the sky was cloudless. it was one of those days when you went out in the morning and thought. things were going to happen today, as i am sure everyone on those airplanes thought. i remember as we were hearing the news of what took place, i

wondered what we have done as a country and as a people that would prompt such an outrageous act. no matter how generous the people we are, there will always be people out there who want to stop what we're doing. they want to stop the way we live. that they brought it home. there have been terrorist activity in the past, but nothing quite so rough. it made us realize and change the world that day. my twins were two years old at the time. that morning, i was in patton, pa.. i went and sat with the mayor in the afternoon. we watched as the day unfolded

with the analysis of what happened. we were sitting in his office watching tv trying to figure out what had gone on. i went home and gave my kids a hug and told them that our lives had just changed. we have to be ready for it. 10 years later, you look back and say, what has all this meant? i think back to what the people on flight 93 must have been thinking. many of us have grown up hearing that if your plan is ever hijacked, sit down and be quiet. it will work out. they just want money or something. the realization these folks havd when they realized this plane had no good intentions and of the was no tomorrow, they stood up and took action. it amazes me.

president clinton mentioned yesterday activity in years past. it was always a military action, not civilians, not citizens who said that we have to do something. they planned it. they had a strategy and they attacked. they forced the plane to crash year. -- they forced the plane to crash here. i think about what was going through their minds. did they know the scope and magnitude of what they were doing? i am sure they did, but they could not know what it would mean to all of us. ies, theat the family courage that your family member showed will inspire generations to come. the courage you have shown to make sure that we continue on this march to build this

memorial to them, to never forget what happened on that day 10 years ago is a testament to they were, who you are, and to whom we are. i applaud you. i thank you for your courage in showing us the way. we were sitting here yesterday when vice president biden was speaking. i do not know how many of you noticed this, but a little butterfly came up and landed on the flowers and then it's sort of floated off. i watched the president and mrs. bush watching it, too. i thought to myself, that is exactly where we are. it is just a field. it was always a field until september 11, 2001, when it

became a field of honor. thank you very much. [applause] >> good morning. i want to say publicly, that was very well done. i appreciate your words. it is an honor for me to be here again, to be back in shanksville, back with the families. i want to say a word about yesterday. i thought it was an absolutely wonderful, moving, fitting ceremony to dedicate this memorial to the heroes of flight 93. the speeches were powerful. president clinton, president bush, and vice president biden really hit the mark in their speeches yesterday. i think all americans can be proud of what we have been able to accomplish here in shanksville. i also listened to the songs is

today performed by sarah macl auchlin or so appropriate to open this memorial. [applause] this memorial would not be here if not for the hundreds of thousands of people who have worked on this from local officials, and volunteers in somerset county who worked extremely hard to make sure this memorial became a reality of. [applause] to the state officials involved, particularly governor rendell, who sat here about five years ago with me. he had just found it a project in philadelphia or somewhere.

he looked at me and said we should be spending that money here. he went back and started on the mission to make sure that the state would do their part to make sure the memorial was dedicated and built. [applause] to gov. ridge and others heading up the drive to raise the funds come to the thousands who have contributed, thank you for your efforts in doing gotha. [applause] into the men and women of the parks services. [applause] we appreciate all that you are doing. we know that he will continue to make sure that this site has a ceremony every year like this to honor the heroes of flight 93. and of course, to the families.

you inspire me every day. i have worked with many of you. we have faced hurdles. we have overcome them to see the memorial here. you truly are an inspiration to me in everything i do, whether it is projecting this nation, try to build a better america, bringing people together. you are the inspiration, courage, and strength that tells me to do what i do in the united states congress and i thank you for that. september 11 was a defining moment for america and also for a freshman congressman. i was in the capitol complex that day. i will never forget that day. i got into my office about 8:30. i turned on the tv and saw the reports of the first airplane. i called and talked to my wife. we thought it had to be a small aircraft. soon after, we saw the second plane go in.

then the pentagon was ordered to evacuate. i sent my staff away. a couple of us stayed behind thinking there would be made him in the streets -- mayhem in the streets and we would wait until it died down. then we saw another airplane and thought it was best to evacuate the capital. i remember hearing that the airplane was missing in shanksville and then went down. the horrific events and heroism that followed should always be remembered. whether it is the towers were almost 400 firemen and policemen rushed into the buildings to save lives and gave their lives at the end or at the pentagon where first responders and men and women who worked in the pentagon went back into the building and tried to save people in the pentagon. tremendous tax of heroism --

acts of heroism. but this is the place where americans said no, they would not stand for what was happening. they heard about it. as horrific as the day was, it does bring a smile to my face to know that they took a vote. only in america with people take a vote, decide to make a plan, and act on it. [applause] this is the greatest country in the world. [applause] they fought the first counterattacked in the skies over pennsylvania. it ended right here in shanksville. they should be and always will be an inspiration to the american people for the inspiration and courage and hope that they give us. this is the site of the league future generations will turn to

-- this is a sight i believe future generations will turn to. it invoked memories for me of lexington, concord, and the alamo where americans banded together against incredible odds, stood strong, and said no, this will not stand. that is what happened in the skies of pennsylvania. that is what happened in shanksville. i am certain it will be the inspiration for many generations to come. we must always remember the heroes of flight 93. god bless them. god bless the families. god bless the united states of america. thank you. [applause] >> if the families dumo not mind, i would like to speak on your behalf to this

extraordinarily large assembled crowd. ladies and gentlemen, over the past couple days, i have met quite a few of you. you have come from all around the country. you came in buses, vans, cars, pickup trucks, and on motorcycles. some of you had your cars towed out of the moneyed lot. i think your presence today means almost as much to the families and perhaps as much as the memorial itself. [applause] some of us for whatever reason

got a bunch of vip badges. you are the vip's. many of you have been here for a couple of days. i met a couple that were in the capitol building. they were not elected officials. they were in the capitol building on september 11. this is their third time back. they understood that your loved ones died so that they could live. i want to say on behalf of the families, to all of you, you are very presence is a powerful message of comfort and understanding and love. on their behalf, i thank you. [applause]

there is a line from an old p oem i would like to share. laugh and talk of me as if i were beside you there. to you, our 40 heroes, on the special september morning, may i take a few moments to speak of you and to you? as you sit beside us here.

beside your family, friends, and fellow citizens on soft and sacred earth, now under peaceful skies, throughout the land were the last living increase of the nation moved our hearts 10 years ago and still does 10 years on. grieve not nor speak of me with tears. laugh and talk of me as if i were beside you there. we still grieve. it is still hard at times not to speak of you with tears. it is still hard at times to laugh. we would rather share a laugh.

the tv side is here this september 11, we continue to celebrate your lives and legacy. we suspect you may not be comfortable when we call you heroes, but humor us. you are heros without a doubt. we know that province is now eace.piec 10 years ago, many of us stood along the field. we were angry and heartbroken. as the days and weeks and months unfold in, your story became known. we wondered if we had been in your place, would we have shown the same resolve, selflessness, valor?me astonishing dollar

we wondered if this was uniquely american, uniquely you, or a combination? as we grew to know your families and all who have loved you over these many years, what we do understand better now is that those 40 extraordinary heroes were enriched, loved, and made stronger by 40 extraordinary families. it is no wonder to all of us that you fought for them and for people that you never knew. grieve not nor speak of me with and talk ofllolaugh me as if i were beside you there.

we wonder if you are surprised that 10 years later, we are even you and even more grateful. it is not a surprise to us. perhaps because as each day and year passes, as we've come to better understand 9/11 as a new time in american security and a new chapter in american history, we now know as a country that moments and people come through our lives to remind us to cherish what we have and to do all we can to protect it. 10 years on, your actions still call to us. they remind us to be our best selves, to take care of one another, to honor and preserve

this year will, the magnificence, and the fortitude of the american spirit. 10 years on, you remain an emblem of america's great glory. 230 plus years of liberty and self-determination demonstrated at its highest regard and at its highest cost. you stood 1st and fast against those who sought to do your fellow citizens are. you signalled to all the world that americans do not live in fear. we live in freedom. we will never let that freedom go. you said with great courage what generations have brought together. let no one put asunder your

actions. the message has helped us to remember one september and many septembers more than america is and will always be a brazilian nation -- a resilient nation. we know you would expect of your country nothing less. tragedies' teach us but they do not stop us. we're still the freest most blessed nature in this treasured world. we will honor that role with the memory and guidance of 40 great shepherds. speak of me with tears. laugh and speak of me as if i were there. 40 heroes as you sit beside us,

we pledge to you that we will ensure that future generations know your names in your remarkable story, just as we have been privileged to do. we're honored to share the legacy of the men and women who made a difference, whose lives had great meaning and to remain deeply missed. may god continue to bless you, the beloved families endure grateful nation. it is now my pleasure to introduce the president of the families of flight 93. in addition to the loss of his brother edward, he has been a very strong and compassionate presents for many other flight 93 family members.

he lives with his own family in new york where he runs a summer camp for special needs children. many of you here know the deep respect and tireless energy he has given these many years is boundless. that is what is needed and what we so greatly appreciate. it is my honor to thank him for his service, but he will tell you that he needs no thanks -- but we hsould offer it anyway and welcome him to the podium. [applause] >> thank you, governor ridge.

distinguished guests, families, friends, and all of you that have come this morning to pay tribute to the crew and passengers of flight 93, this is not an easy morning. the flight 93 national memorial, now officially dedicated, is on its way to completion. the sacred ground is safe and secure so that the final resting place of the passengers and crew will be preserved for generations to come. roads have been built, attributes collected, histories reported, and thousands of concerned citizens join us today as we mark the 10th anniversary of september 11. yet i cannot get past the fact that i only wish i could have gotten to know each and everyone of you under different circumstances.

we lost too much 10 years ago. the anguish of september 11 continues to overwhelm. many still seeking answers to questions whose answers remain elusive. why and for what purpose was this battle forced upon the 40 passengers and crew of flight 93 who were taken from us with such violence that morning? nothing frightens me more than the phrase "time heals all pain ." do we truly want to be fully healed if the end result involves the complete elimination of the pain that links us to all the lost that

morning? do we want our memories eroded by the passage of time? i have come to greatly appreciate the term "process." whether it is the healing process or the more realization process. it is the process or steps that one takes to move forward to provide results. september 12, 2001, we begin healing. it was slow at first. it is a process indescribably different for each family member, first responders, a citizen of the county, and all those deeply affected by the terrorist attacks on the united states. those early days saw a renewed spirit of unity throughout communities across our country. in somerset county, hearts and homes were open. volunteers were called to action. some of the best on cookie -- home cooking helped to sustain

bodies and souls. the families, the first responders, and all of those hurt by the events of september 11, for them the healing has begun at the very sight of our loss. the healing process teaches us many lessons. most importantly, we learned that one can be too deeply affected by profound tragedy to ever be considered healed or whole again. those of us who lost family members learned that our most cherished memories of our loved ones are now forever linked to strong and painful emotions. the healing process also teaches us that we can continue to move forward with our lives. while we can never be healed, we can embrace the healing process. in doing so, we can allow

ourselves to remember. we can productively channel anger and frustration so that they do not consume us. the healing process offers opportunities to immerse ourselves in a lifestyle that honors the heroic actions and individuals or lost on september 11. let us not allow time to heal all of our pain. let us never forget the horror of september 11 and the difficult lessons we learned that morning 10 years ago. rather, let us cherish the painful memories of all of those lost. remember how we as a nation came together in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks and responded as one people, unified to meet the challenge thrust upon us. we cannot escape the painful reality of history, but we can choose to be inspired by that reality. here at the flight 93 national memorial, we hold fast to the memories of those that perished

and their collective acts of heroism. this site will for ever stand as a tribute to 40 individuals who under the most horrific conditions chose to stand as one and fight. they lost their lives. they won the battle. our painful remembrances honors them and keeps them alive in our hearts. thank you. [applause] >> and we are back live on c-span. you've been watching coverage from this morning from shanksville, pennsylvania. on your screen now is a ping chur of alice hopeland. she's the mother of mark bingham.