September 11th has been designated Patriot's Day by President George W. Bush. The American Legion, Post 17, memorialized the victims of that fateful day. Below are my remarks that evening as a guest speaker.



Thank you for your introduction and for the tremendous honor of being with you this evening. First, let me thank you for all you have done for this state and nation.It's because of men and women like you that we enjoy freedom in this country.

On this sixth anniversary of 9-11, we are reminded of the 2,974 innocent victims who lost their life as a result of the terrorist attacks on thisday. We also remember ~ in reverence ~ our fellow Tennesseans and Americans, who lost their lives and who paid the ultimate sacrifice in this war against evil. Let us never forget their heroism.Just as Pearl Harbor Day, or the assassination of President Kennedy,9-11, is a day engrained into our nation's history and the lives of our citizens.* We all remember where we were when we heard about the attacks.* We remember the fear of what the future held in those days andweeks that followed.* We mourned at the sight of those who lost their loved ones andlooked for hope in the heap of rubble. I have visited Ground Zero twice since the attacks. The first time was Easter weekend 2002, seven short months after the attack. Work trucks were still working their way up the ramps from the pit and I was amazed by the shear size of it all. Broken windows and glass were still visible. On a side street, we entered a small camera shop to buy more film. The shopkeeper was an Asian woman. We asked her about that day and if she was there. In spite of being here in America for over 20 years, she spoke in broken English. She told us how she left her shop in the confusion and then ran back because she feared someone would rob her tiny store. She hid under the shop counter. She told us about how people were running and screaming and as she did this her voice became more excited and her English more broken. She told us how people ran in her shop and grabbed boxes of film and disposable cameras off the shelves, the majority without paying because of the sheer terror of the event. She explained how her business had been shut down for six months because the site was barricaded. She had just reopened. She told us of all the people that came back, 6 months later, to pay her for the film and cameras they grabbed. And then, she smiled at us and exclaimed, America, USA! Number 1!

Everything changed that day-the way we looked at our loved ones, our flag, and our very freedom-with all of these becoming more precious.As we get further from that fateful day, it becomes easier for some to forget the terror that occurred as we go about our daily lives. As the saying goes-Life goes on.

However, today, once again, we are reminded that the 9-11 tragedy taught us much about our nation's spirit and resolve. It also rang a warning bell that the things we once took for granted could become a target for terrorist attacks.The acts of cowardice of that day should serve to remind us that we remain under attack from a new enemy that chooses to hide behind the innocent, including those of their own nationality and beliefs. Thank God we have men and women like you willing to risk their lives to fight against evil.

At the same time, after 9-11 we have also seen the compassion shown to a people who had known nothing but tyranny.... We have seen the pictures of soldiers showing kindnesses to Iraqi children. Those children---and the direction they will take in the future---will be forever changed.

Whether today we are speaking of today's soldiers or those who have served us bravely in former wars from WWII to Korea, and from Vietnam,the first Gulf War to Kosovo-our soldiers have been ambassadors of freedom. And, without them the world would be dark place.

Besides our national conscience, there have been many changes that have evolved over the past six years as a result if 9-11.The most prevalent has been our state of readiness.There is no higher priority of government than ensuring the safety and protection of our citizens, by providing critical infrastructure and resources to help us defeat the challenges of a new enemy---terrorism.

There were many lessons of 9-11, which will change this state and nation for decades to come. I want to talk to you about some of the more important things Tennessee has done to become ready in the event of such a tragedy since that time.

Immediately after the 9-11 attack, Governor Sundquist appointed the Office of Homeland Security to direct the efforts to meet this new challenge.The mission of the state's homeland security efforts is first to deter aterrorist attack. The next priority was to improve the state's capabilities to respond to an incident if one should occur.

Following, we created our Tennessee Homeland Security Council,consisting of the department or agency heads of state government departments that have a part in the anti-terrorism efforts-whether it is our military to protect us, our Health Department making certain we have a network of health services available, or our law enforcement agencies charged with looking at any potential threat. The way our government responds to potential acts of terrorism is at a new level ofcoordination and readiness due to events of September 11, 2001.

We have set-up a Hospital Bio-preparedness Committee and Public Health Emergency Advisory Committee that concentrated on establishing regional hospitals and other aspects of bio-terrorism emergency preparedness.They worked on such matters as the training of hospital personnel and the stockpiling of essential medical products or drugs that would be needed in such an event. They will also work on developing an alert and communications system for public health officials.

Combating terrorism demands unity of effort and teamwork across federal, state and local governments. It also involves a critical partnershipwith private organizations across the state of Tennessee.

Since and as a result of 9-11, we have provided the bulk of our efforts to readiness and response at the local level-which is where our citizens live and work. This is where we train both emergency personnel and citizen volunteers in how to be prepared in such as event that struck that terrible day.

The federal government has provided grants to help offset the cost of this new age of terrorism to state and local governments and Sumner County has been a beneficiary. Tennessee has learned the lesson that we cannot sit back and be complacent. We have been working at bringing local government, law enforcement and emergency responders to bridge gaps, which existed within formation flow. Communication and coordination are critical to our efforts.

Our state has created the "Citizen Corp Council" which depends on thousands of Tennesseans our in our communities from Mountain City to Memphis. The Citizens Corps is a broad network of volunteer efforts
that embodies the volunteer spirit for which our state is known.Specific programs within the Citizen Corps include the community Emergency Response Teams, Volunteers in Police Service, Neighborhood Watch Program, Medical Reserves Corps and Fire Corps.

Finally, many new laws were passed in the wake of 9-11 to deter terrorism in our state. The "Terrorism Prevention & Response Act of 2002" defines the crime of terrorism and sets stiff penalties for possession, manufacture, or transferring a weapon of mass destruction or participating a hoax of the same. Terrorists would face the death penalty if persons are killed.

The terrorist attacks on our nation in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. brought tragedy to our country. It also brought resolve to each of the 50 states including our own, in preparing for this newage of terrorism. The 9-11 attack, as horrible as it was, brought out the best in Americans and in Tennesseans.

On this day, as we remember the victims on this anniversary, may we continue to strengthen our preparedness and resolve to guard our precious freedoms.

God bless you, the great state of Tennessee, and America!