On September 11, 2001, our nation was forever changed. On this eighth anniversary of that horrific attack we remember the moms, dads, children, grandparents, friends and neighbors that lost their lives. We also salute the bravery of the thousands of first responders, firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel that were on the scene that fateful day.

Like you, I will never forget that Tuesday morning when the skies darkened over New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. We watched in horror as thousands of innocent Americans fell victim to a violent plot carried out by terrorists that, to this day, continue working to destroy Americans’ way of life.

However, in the midst of the chaos, destruction and horror we experienced, we were reminded of the freedoms that we cherish. Through the smoke and ash came clarity about what it truly means to be an American. The Stars and Stripes became more than just part of a flag, the colors red, white and blue became more vivid, and words like “freedom,” “liberty” and “justice” took on new meaning.

On 9/11, we vowed that radical extremists would never again be given the opportunity to bring the War on Terror to our soil. And at this very moment, troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are on the front lines staring our enemies in the face as they stand inside their own borders.

As a result of the September 11th attacks, we are a much more guarded nation, but we stand together stronger than ever before. We stand together without intimidation and ready to defend the principles of freedom and prosperity on which this great nation was built. And we stand ready to fight against those that threaten peace and stability around the world.

On this day of remembrance, we honor and celebrate the lives of those who perished on that tragic morning and promise their families they will never be forgotten. We also take the time to say thank you to the heroes of our Armed Forces stationed around the globe for their unending bravery and sacrifice.

On behalf of the Tennessee Republican Party on this September 11th, God bless you, your families, and the United States of America.

Chris Devaney
Chairman
Tennessee Republican Party