WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, remembered the events of September 11, 2001, during a speech on Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate. She spoke in memory of the victims, first responders, and innocent citizens who courageously put their lives on the line to save countless others.
Watch:
Read the transcript below:
“Mr. President, 18 years agoâon a bright, clear-skied September morningâwithout warning, our nation was attacked.
âMany of us probably remember where we were on that horrible day.
âI had that morning off. I was at home with my nearly two-year-old daughter. We didnât have the TV on. We had a couple of gentlemen at the houseâŠI was getting a brand-new furnace that day.
âWhat would be normally a couple hour installation turned into an all-day event, as those men would take time off from installing our new furnace, to run into the other room so we could see what was going on, on the television.
âI had two phone calls that morning. The first, was early, it was from a neighbor, and she said, âJoni, do you have the TV on?â And I said, âWell no, Wanda, I donât, whatâs going on?â She said, âJoni, you just need to turn the TV on.â
âSo I did. And I saw the horrible events unfolding right in front of us.
âThe second phone call I got was from my Iowa Army National Guard unit. âCaptain Ernst, weâre doing a one-hundred percent accountability check. We need you to stay by the phone all day, so we know how we can get ahold of you.â
âOne-hundred percent accountability.
âIt was an experience many of us had never felt beforeâthe terrifying shock of knowing that the country we love and our fellow Americans were under attack.
âMr. President, our adversaries sought to tear us apart with their cowardly acts. But, instead, they brought us together as Americans.
âFor in those terrible moments, we also saw the very, very best of countryâthe firefighters, the police officers, the first responders, and the ordinary citizens who courageously put their lives on the line to save countless others.
âOn that day, as individuals and as a nation, we came together in a unique way, and we also made a pledge to never forgetâŠ
âTo never forget the nearly 3,000 victims and the families that they left behind;
âTo never forget the heroism of both our first responders and those everyday men and women who selflessly acted to save lives;
âTo never forget the importance of defending our homeland and the great democratic principles we stand for.
âItâs a pledge I personally take very seriously. Itâs why I organized this event for my colleagues to come to the floor and to share their memories and thoughts on today, this 18th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
âItâs why I work so hard to make sure our armed forces have the technology, support, and resources they need to defend our nation from threats both here at home and abroad.
âItâs why I cosponsored and helped to finally get signed into law a permanent reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund â keeping our nationâs promise to support the first responders who continue to sacrifice their health and even their lives from their work in the post-9/11 recovery efforts.
âAnd itâs why we should never ever take our nation and our freedoms for granted.
âMr. President, I am one, just one, of the millions of Americans keeping that promise to never forget.
âIn fact, today, back home in Iowa, there are countless folks that are honoring that vow in their own, thoughtful way.
âMany use todayâs anniversary as a day of service, performing acts of kindness throughout Iowa.
âOthers come together with their communities to honor and remember those who were lost.
âItâs really wonderful to see all of the ways folks are doing that – from walking in the 9/11 March to the Capitol in Des Moines, to visiting the 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit currently at the Clay County Fair, to participating in the Annual 9/11 Moment of Silence Motorcycle Ride in Mason City.
âAnd for some of our fellow Iowans, today will be spent remembering loved ones lost in the attack.
âFolks like Newtonâs Jean Cleere, whose husband, Jim â who was a loving, good-humored, God-fearing giant of a man â who never came home from a fateful business trip to the World Trade Center 18 years ago.
âFor nearly two decades now, Jean has been on a crusade to keep Jimâs memory alive and well.
âShe helped raise funds for Newtonâs very own 9/11 memorial.
âShe speaks to local students, educating them about the events of that day, 18 years ago.
âAnd she has given her testimony all over IowaâŠAnd for folks in Iowa, theyâve probably see her driving across the state. She has a pretty special license plate, which reads: N-V-R-4-G-T â âNever Forget.â
âToday â and every day â Iowans are keeping that sacred promise.
âWe will always remember Jim Cleere and the nearly 3,000 others who lost their lives that tragic day.
âWe will always honor the heroes who selflessly sacrificed and saved countless lives.
âWe will always rise up to defend our nation and its citizens.
âWe will never forget. That is our sacred promise.
âThank you.â