|
 |
|
A Message to the American People We will never forget the events of September 11, 2001. The utter brutality of the attack combined with the loss of human lives was unimaginable just 12 months ago. Now it has become part of our shared history: unbelievable yet unforgettable. On this first anniversary, may we also not forget the courage with which we as a nation responded. Some, like the Urban Search and Rescue teams, were on the scene in the initial hours after the attack. Others, like the Project Liberty crisis counselors, came in the weeks and months that followed. Many emergency workers traveled across the country to help their fellow Americans in need. Others, like volunteer Giovanny Guerrero, had only to cross the street to join the historic rescue effort. Some donated to charitable organizations. Others attended memorial services for the victims in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York. Many prayed. Whatever you did to help, you were part of an unprecedented recovery effort that showed the world how extraordinary our nation is. The work that began on September 11 and continues today could not have been done without your support. Others, like those profiled in this report, may have literally picked up the pieces. But it was your prayers that picked them up and kept all of us going during the dark days after the horror. As in other catastrophic disasters, FEMA acts on your behalf. The programs we oversee and the funding we distribute are in your name. And because 9/11 was unlike any other disaster, we are responding, as you would, with the necessary flexibility to address the unique needs of those victimized by the attacks. Though there remains much to be done, on this anniversary it seems only right to grieve for those Americans lost and to recognize those who remain: the most courageous and compassionate people the world has ever seen. Joe M. Allbaugh |
|
|
|
 |