Consul General Speeches

Remarks by Consul General Marjorie A. Ames at a Commemoration of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks

U.S. Consulate General, Amsterdam
September 11, 2007

Mayor Cohen, Major General Oostendorp, the General of the Capital, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Guests, My Colleagues:

Today we stand together to commemorate the terrible events of September 11, 2001.  
 
Six years ago, we watched in disbelief as the crystal blue sky of an iconic cityscape was ruptured by unspeakable violence, and was followed soon afterwards by terror and tragedy at the Pentagon and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 

Six years after that dreadful day when so much was lost – and so much changed – I am grateful to you for gathering with us.  We are here to remember those who lost their lives.  We are here to remember those who showed tremendous courage – racing up smoke-filled stairwells in the Twin Towers, carrying the injured away from the burning Pentagon building, rushing up the aisle of an aircraft to thwart the terrorists’ deadly plans.  And we are here to honor the families and the friends of the nearly 3,000 victims of September 11 who carry their own memories of those they have lost.

In the aftermath of the attacks, the New York Times compiled a brief profile of every single person who perished.  These accounts are devastating to read.  The victims at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon and on four aircraft were simply men and women going about their lives.  They came from all walks of life and adhered to many different faiths.  They loved their families.  They coached youth baseball teams and got up at 3 a.m. to make sure their kids made it to hockey practice.  They hosted neighborhood barbeques and volunteered in their communities.  And so many left behind children who, from the start of their journey through life, will not have the comfort of knowing the love or the simple presence of a mother or a father. 

We cannot fail to find something in common with these men and women; to see ourselves in them.  Terrorism affects all of us, and has brought tragedy and destruction and terrible grief to innocent people across the world, from Indonesia to Morocco, from Spain to Jordan, from England to India. 

By reflecting together on the events of September 11, we also demonstrate that those who would wish to drive us apart have only served to bring us closer.  On a day when people from over 90 different nations lost their lives, we learned just how much we share, and just how much we rely on each other.  We learned with renewed clarity the importance of community – from communities such as this one where we gather from diverse backgrounds in a common purpose, to the cities and towns that we call “home,” to the community of nations. 

It is the strength of community that prevailed after 9/11.  All across the United States – and all around the world – people came together to grieve, to support each other, to gather donations, to recover and to rebuild.  In The Netherlands, I know that the outpouring of condolences and support was very moving to my colleagues who were here at the time, and to the communities in the U.S who lost so much.  We found a new expression of the deep and abiding friendship between our nations and our peoples.  Many of the relationships forged in that difficult time thrive today.  And the United States continues to be grateful for the support that The Netherlands and its people have shown for the efforts we have engaged in together to rid the world of the scourge of terrorism.

One of the New York Times profiles I read was about a woman that I will never have the opportunity to meet, but who I am certain I would have been fortunate to know.  This young Dutch woman traveled the world before she discovered her great love for the city of New York.  In her, The Netherlands suffered its loss in the attacks on September 11.  From reading the many tributes to her from friends and colleagues, I think that we all could learn from her spirited approach to life.  The New York Times noted that her favorite saying was, “Carpe Diem.” 

Seize the day.

I ask that you join me today to consider how, together, each of us in our own communities can seize this day to honor the memory of those who have fallen.  As I look around me, I see men and women who have chosen to dedicate their lives to public service.  Many of you have chosen careers that put you in harm’s way every single day.  And some have faced great personal risk or endured personal sacrifice, as you reach beyond yourselves to serve the people around you.  It is an honor to stand with you.

Over the last six years, with the support of our friends and allies, the people of the United States have made great strides in rebuilding and in healing the wounds of a terrible tragedy.  Even as we have reacted with sorrow to dreadful terrorist acts during the last several years – and as recently as several days ago in Algeria – we share an unshakeable resolve:  that freedom will not perish, and that fear will not triumph.  Together we can unite against our common adversary; a foe whose only accomplishment is the loss of his own humanity.  Together we can look forward with hope to strengthening the bonds between us.  And together we can seize this day to build a world of peace, tolerance and understanding for the generations that follow us.

Now I would like to invite Mayor Job Cohen to share with us a few of his thoughts on this solemn occasion.