Statement by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. on 14th Anniversary of World Trade Center Attacks

“Fourteen years ago, we lost thousands of innocent Americans, including many from our own communities here in Queens, on one of the most tragic days in our country’s history. Though 14 years may seem like a long time ago, the wounds of September 11, 2001 are still very fresh to millions of people who remember it like it was yesterday.

In the years that have passed since the attacks on the World Trade Center, much has changed around our country and around the globe, and a new generation of Americans were born who were not around to see the devastation our city and our country suffered on that day. These young people were not around to witness the impact these attacks had on families, or the years of grief and illness that were brought about by them. They were not around to see how many heroes came forward on September 11, 2001 and how in times of peril, Americans unite behind patriotism and strength to rise above adversity.

Today, as we pay tribute to the more than 3,000 Americans who perished on 9/11, we must also recognize the importance of ensuring our children know this date’s place in American history. Every year and every single day, we must teach our children, as I do my two girls, to honor and remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks as the heroes they truly are. Only then will we make certain that our fellow citizens who lost their lives on 9/11 are indeed never forgotten.”

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