whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred. god of understanding, overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy, we seek your light and guidance as we confront such terrible events. grant that those whose lives worse. it may live so that the lives lost year may not have been lost in vain -- whose lives were lost may lives of the allies lost -- the lives lost may not have been lost in vain. let true peace and love rain in the hearts of all. amen. >> thank you, father. we're honored today to have dignitaries with us that i would

like to acknowledge. i would like to knowledge congresswoman nancy pelosi. she has joined us. she is needed back in d.c. for the 9/11 celebration. she wanted to take time today to be with us to share in this day and remember this with her city. remember this -- she wanted to take time to share in this day of remembering with her city. mayor lee is with us today. we would be remiss in not giving a special in allahu -- acknowledgment to former mayor willie brown whose strong and steady leadership, the strong leadership of the mayors of the city's got us through a difficult time. we thank you very much for that,

mr. brown. we also have with us today district attorney george gascon. we appreciate your being with us. we have supervisor emeritus sean elsbernd. the treasurer of the city and county of san francisco is here today. we also have my predecessor at the poa, chris cuddy. we have the u.s. attorney here, i believe. melinda haig, we really appreciate you being here to share this special day with us. also joining us on the podium is the chief of police, the fire

chief is here as well. i got a call yesterday from governor brown who could not be here. he wanted to be here. this is the city that mr. brown came from. he wanted to be here, but duties in sacramento on the 9/11 weekend kept him busy. our first speaker today -- i am honored and proud to introduce the mayor of san francisco, edwin lee. [applause] >> good morning. it is my personal honor to join you to commemorate 9/11 from our police, fire, paramedics, volunteers coming to grips citizens of san francisco.

a decade after the terrorist attacks that occurred on september 11, we continue the struggle to make sense of the terrible events of that day. san francisco is more than 3,000 miles away from the attacks. we felt the devastation and loss keenly here in the city. we will continue to remember and honor those who perished. it is important to me and the people of san francisco that we remember and honor the fallen, including hometown heroes like betty and mark. betty's phone call was the first indication that america was under attack. she relayed vital information to the ground crew. mark wrestled with control of flight 93 rather than allow hijackers to fulfill their mission.

10 years ago, we also learned about the final moments of san francisco resident melissa's hughes who was a victim of terrorism in the towers. to read about her final moments is just as heartbreaking today as it was 10 years ago. events of september 11, 2001, changed the world and redefined our nation in the scope of the tragedy and also in the demonstration of to pass in -- compassion and generation in the days and weeks that followed. around the country come individuals stepped up to give blood, collect donations, and volunteer their time as a show of support for our nation. to all of the families across the nation who suffered and still suffer today, we offer our profound sympathy y.

i also want to knowledge the regional administrator, formerly the director of our department of the environment. i want to recognize them for their important role falling 9/11. the epa conducted much of the hazardous materials assessment and cleanup that occurred on the side of the world trade center. this was a massive undertaking. i thank them for their role in the 9/11 post-event cleanup. while we remember these and other victims, we should take time to reflect on what 9/11 means for all of us and to take to heart president obama's call to us to come together in the spirit of service and unity. there are many events in san francisco on september 11 that helpless to do that while we honor the victims and celebrate the service and heroism of our first responders and military personnel. one such way is to commemorate

the day with a peaceful and unifying nature of music. the san francisco opera and intra-based council will host a special free concert in golden gate park. there will be a day of service where we will participate in volunteer projects throughout our city. another way we can remember and honor the tragic events of 10 years ago is to make sure that our city, the families, and individuals are prepared for emergencies whether man-made or natural disasters. september marks national prepared this month -- prepared ness month. the city website stands ready to assist you in making a family plan, building a disaster kit, or getting volunteer training. san francisco has greatly improved its ability to prepare for, respond to emergencies.

this month announced a public safety communications system after the bay area was awarded a $50 million grant to build a broadband communications network for public safety agencies. we know that emergencies do not stop a city borders. we must be prepared to seamlessly communicate with other public safety personnel throughout the bay area. we have also strengthened our infrastructure, trained our personnel, and are preparing the community to rapidly recovered from any emergency. it is now 10 years later and we are prepared, stronger, and ready. the 9/11 attacks represent an unimaginable tragedy in the history of our country. at the same time, the lessons learned from that day continue

to help us grow and become stronger. i want to personally thank our men and women, the first responders to protect us from grave danger and keep our country say. these first responders risked their lives for us daily. from the police officers who protect us and the firefighters who courageously keep us from harm, the paramedics who care for us, our words cannot describe our thankfulness for your heroism every day and the sacrifices you have undertaken to keep our communities, our city, and our country safe. i think you and honor you -- i thank you and honor you on this day. i would like to ask the chief of the police and the firefighters, the union leaders, to please come up and present his

proclamation to you. on behalf of our city, i declare 9/11 to be the day of service and remember thirance in san fro and clear this proclamation for that. -- and clare -- declare this proclamation for that. [applause] >> next, we're honored to present congresswoman nancy pelosi. [applause] >> thank you very much.

lt. tom o'connor is the president of the firefighters 798. thank you all for bringing us together today. it is an honor to join you to mark this ceremony with the esteemed collection of our leaders, the former mayor, the official family of our community, to join mayor lee, the police chief, and the fire chief. i join the mayor and acknowledging and thanking all of our first responders and their families for helping us to honor our first responsibility to the people, that is to keep them safe. when we visit the memory of september 11, we tread on sacred ground. on that day 10 years ago, california was a weekend to a changed world, to scenes of a

horrific attack on our nation. we each have stories to tell of where we were and how we found out about it. across the country, despite our individual stories, we were all united. we were bound by grief and sorrow. we were driven by resolve. we were inspired by our fellow americans to be together and be strong. as we watched the images of destruction in new york, washington, and pennsylvania, we all bore witness to courage, to the bravery and heroism of our first responders, the men and women who ran to the rescue of those in danger, who searched for survivors and risked their lives and health to save others. long after the building's bell, these heroes stayed to sift through the rubble -- long after the buildings fell, these heroes

stayed to sift through the rubble. in the aftermath of 9/11, immediately san franciscans took pride in knowing that our firefighters were on the first airplane out to new york to contribute to the rescue and recovery, to share in the grief, and to lend a helping hand. every day is a day we are indebted to our first responders, our men and women in uniform who keep us safe. weeks ago, we all came together to honor benny and tony. we honor them every day. we know that we are in your debt because every day you take risks for us. for all those who responded to 9/11, that is why the president signed the health and composition at to secure the health and well-being of those

who cleaned up at ground zero after 9/11. it is by the light of their example that americans joined in a national day of service and remembrance to mark this anniversary. i commend our first responders here for making this second saturday in september a day of service. it happens to coincide this year with the eve of 9/11. earlier this year, members of congress and people from across the country -- we had the privilege to help stitch the flag that flew over ground zero on that fateful day. some people decided they would have the flag for the country. everyplace it went, it was mended with portions of other flags, with fragments of our history. for those of us who have the

privilege of stitching the fly, included blue threads from the flag that cover the body of abraham lincoln after he was assassinated. that was another great tragedy that befell our nation. think of it, been unified across the generations, across the country, across communities, by this flag. when i saw the blue threads from abraham lincoln's memorial flag, i was reminded of the speech he made early on where he talked about the silent artillery of time. for the families, friends, and loved ones of those who died on 9/11, may be silent artillery of time help to diminish their pain and grief. but time will never diminish the

respect we have for the memory of those who perished and those who came to their rescue. 10 years ago, we lost many people. today and in the future, we will never forget them. that is for sure. the tragedy of september 11 will always be emblazoned in the hearts, minds, and on the character of america. i join our chaplain in invoking god's blessing on the memory of those we lost. may god bless our first responders, all of you and those who serve, and your families. may god continue to bless the united states of america. when i leave here, i will go to the airport and go to new york to be part of our congressional delegation to join the president in the observance at ground zero. i will take with me in the profound statements and sentiments i see here today and see every day in response to

9/11. thank you for that connection to our great country and that concern for the american people. again, may god bless you. may god bless america. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, speaker. i would like to introduce our next speaker, the chief of the firefighters, chief joanne hayes-white. [applause] >> good morning. thank you for all being here. i would like to acknowledge the president of the police officers association and the president of local 798. captain tom o'connor. thank you for organizing this even today. i would also like to acknowledge

mayor lee and congresswoman pelosi for your unwavering support for our members and first responders and always prioritizing public safety. as we reflect on the tragedy of september 11, 2001, we will never forget that nearly 3000 innocent victims lost their lives and the soul of the nation was changed forever. we have vividly remember the horrific sides of the world trade center in new york, at the pentagon in virginia, and at the crash site in pennsylvania. hundreds of those who perished where people sworn to serve and protect. 343 firefighters, 50 law enforcement officers, 37 from the port authority pd, and others from new york pd. we each remember that day. we remember the tragedy we face as a nation under attack. we also remember how we came together a san franciscans, neighbors, and partners.

the city came together as a family to ensure that all those were safe and that our loved ones were free from harm. one of the most important ways to honor the memory of the innocent victims is to continue to strengthen our collective effort, to maintain vigilance, to enhance our preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. it is a shared responsibility. we all play a role in being resilienct neighborhoods, citie, and states that are a foundation for a strong nation. we can accomplish much more when we work together. over the last decade, incredible progress has been made in integrating collaboration into our culture. i see the elements of the nerd program. the red cross is here today. thank you for being here today and being part of the solution and effort. >> the chief of police.

>> good morning. i would also like to thank you for joining us here today as we honor the americans lost their lives 10 years ago. is an american tradition to honor fellow citizens who have made the ultimate sacrifice. congresswoman pelosi quoted abraham lincoln earlier. i think what he also said 150 years at the dedication of the national cemetery at gettysburg applies as much today as it did then. lincoln said that the world will little note nor long remember what we said here, but it can never forget what they did. over 2900 people were killed 10 years ago in the attacks on the world trade center. for the 16 of those who perished or our brother and sister firefighters -- 416 of those who perished work our brother and sister firefighters. 25,000 other lives worse.

because of them. none of us will ever forget where we were on the morning of september 11, 2001. at police headquarters in san francisco, we watched in horror as the images were replayed on every channel. we learned one of the airplane is believed to be hijacked was heading to san this is good. later, we learned flight 93 went down in pennsylvania. in the days that followed, we heard stories of incredible heroism in which the passengers engaged and saved the lives of others. as we came to grips with the events of that day, a recurring theme emerged. all those police officers and firefighters rushed into the burning buildings as everyone else was trying to get out. i think we were equally surprised at fire stations and

police departments around the country. what did they think we would do? as first responders, we are sworn to russia in 1 everyone rushes out. that is what we do every day -- we are sworn to rushed in with everyone else rushes out. that is what we do every day. we're proud to be police and firefighters. we were also proud to be americans. we remember the sacrifices made that day. let us remember again the words of abraham lincoln that we show increased devotion to the cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion trade we will highly resolve that these dead will not have died in vain. this will be with us every day. remember how we came together as a country 10 years ago? young people volunteered in record numbers to defend this country. american flags seemed to be everywhere almost in an instant. they adorned every uniform,

clifford every house, every car antenna, and were spread -- flew from every house and car antennae. the public said thank you in every way they could. we need to come together and stay together to keep the memory of our fallen brethren alive. we are committed to making this city safe. i want to thank everyone who made today's remembrance possible. i pray that we always remember 10 years ago today so that the memory of those who perished will never be forgotten. [applause] >> the president of the san francisco firefighters local 798. [applause]

>> 10 septembers have come and gone. no changing of the season's can erase the images of that day. no passage of time to take away the meaning of this moment. again we pause and remember. we remember the lives lost. on the day that marks the senseless deaths, we try to recall the beauty of the lives the victims lived. the memorial's today and tomorrow allow us to remember their time on earth and tell their families and loved ones we have not forgotten them and that we never will. we especially on those who gave their lives so that others could live. we are the brave men and women who rushed into harm's way. we pay tribute to the sacrifice made and the courage displayed by police officers and firefighters rushing into the burning towers and pentagon. we watched in horror as the

towers collapsed knowing that our colleagues were inside. those are acts of heroism the nation will never forget. it is natural for us to focus on those images and that morning. throughout history, images serve as defining moments. the images of the airplanes crashing into the towers, the debris cascaded through manhattan, the smoke rising from the pentagon, and firefighters and police officers rushing upstairs while others rushed out. there are other images we should remember as well. there are images from the days after september 11. a young boy wearing a plastic fire helmet standing guard. a little girl leaving flowers outside american embassy in moscow. candlelight vigils held across the world. 100,000 canadians gathering in ottawa, all of these people sharing and our sorrow.

the images we should remember our that the most terrific ax imagine brought out the most noble among those around the globe. today it brings out the most noble again. let us stand strong with that spirit. let us not focus on the evil of that day but on the capacity for that dwells inside all of us. that may be the greatest moral we can participate in for those who perished. that may be the greatest way to honor all of those who were taken from us on that day. let us focus on our impulse to say, serve, and demonstrate compassion and understanding. iseptember10 septembers have cod gone and left the fat-- left usa legacy to remember and serve others.

that is our duty for this september and for a lifetime of septembers. thank you. [applause] >> in the years that have followed 9/11, our country has faced many challenges. despite two assertions and our 10-year involvement in the middle east, much controversy and paint has taken place -- much controversy and pain has taken place. we must remember that there is more that unites us than divides us and their release has been. in the sons and daughters of the greatest generation, being part of a democracy that was created by immigrants and maintained over the last 250 years by

americans, we have found ourselves to be strong, determined, powerful, and brazilian people whose strength has been and always will be our diversity and the democratic process that allows us to debate and express our ideas in a free and open society. we thank all of you very much today for coming here and sharing with us on our day of solemn remembrance of 9/11, 200 1. i think we have heard sirens behind us at least five times. we have heard officers responding to the needs of san franciscans. that is what we will continue to do to are the people of san francisco. i would ask all of us to join

the velvet voice of the sfpd in singing "god bless america. " >> >> ♪ us swear allegiance to a land that is free let us all be grateful for a land sof fair as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer god bless america, land that i love, stand beside her and guide her through the night