thousands more deployed from kentucky's fort campbell. more than 18,000 airmen from the kentucky national guard have been mobilized to defend our nation. and fighting by our side for nearly 20 years now have been our friends and nato allies. america's friend invoked article 5 right away and have fought alongside us to defeat this global threat. that dark day occasioned brave contributions from so many, from the firefighters who went through smoke, to the citizens who donated blood and flew our flag, to the young men and women who are stationed thousands of miles from home right now to help our nation project power and protect our homeland. we did what americans do. we stayed strong, we stuck together, and we rolled up our sleeves, and we rebuilt. some rebuilt their lives. others rebuilt buildings. some put on the uniform and rebuilt peace and security with their own hands. may we never fail to honor them, and may we never tire of the toughness, vigilance and persistence it has taken and will continue to take to make our pledge, never agai