Arlington County Government, VA Most Recent, 11 Sep 2017

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From YouTube: Arlington County 9-11 Commemoration Ceremony

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At 9:30 AM on September 11 2017, the 16th anniversary of the attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Towers was commemorated by Arlington County Fire, Police, Sheriff and honor guard in front of the County office building at 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington VA. County Board Chairman Jay Fisette gave the address.

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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Arlington County government, thank you for joining us this morning, as we gather to commemorate the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001.

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We come together today to honor and remember the lives that were lost and to express our gratitude to all those who responded on that day and every day since in service to their fellow citizens. Please stand for the presentation of the colors by the Arlington County Public Safety, combined honor guard.

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Please remain standing as officer Jennifer levy of the Arlington County Police Department will now sing the national anthem.

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Whose broad stripes and bright stars through.

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Ladies and gentlemen, please join us now in a moment of silence in memory of the nearly 3,000 men, women and children who lost their lives 16 years ago. Today,.

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Thank you, hello,.

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I'd like to introduce the chairman of the Arlington County Board, the Honorable Jeff, is set for opening remarks.

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Each year here in Arlington, we come together as a community to remember and to honor those who lost their lives on September, 11th 2001 and their families, who must carry on without them.

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Nothing in fact have prepared Arlington this region or this country for the horrific events of that day at the Pentagon at the World Trade Center in Pennsylvania that claimed nearly 3,000 lives on that eerily similar beautiful late summer day, I was the County Board Chair at that time, and like many of you here, I expect I witnessed that big gash in the Pentagon, the tragedy of lost lives and the incredible courage and professionalism shown by our own first responders.

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Many don't remember, but for the first 10 days at the Pentagon, it was our Arlington Fire Department that led the rescue and recovery operation, aided, of course, by hundreds of Arlington County employees that stood up and answered the call and did their jobs as well.

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They all worked with jurisdictions across this region so effectively that the Arlington response was singled out in the 9/11 Commission report as an example of what went right that day by the afternoon of September 11, our community and our nation had really never been so united.

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The initial shock was followed by compassion by patriotism and by resolve.

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Those of you that were here remember the image of those flags being unfurled from office buildings across bridges and planted in front lawns across the county and across America.

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It is so important that we not forget that we never forget and that we continue to learn lessons from that day.

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We all know that responding to disasters, first and foremost, is a government, a public function and responsibility.

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We learned lessons about fighting terrorism, about regional coordination, about communicating with the public.

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We also learn of our inner strength and resiliency, and the power of compassion today, in this county and across our region, we're even better prepared to face threats, whether man-made or natural disasters than we were in 2001, we've invested in preparedness, and we think we've helped our citizens, our residents and our businesses to be better prepared.

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Our trained professionals, some of them right here with us today, are essential and we know it takes even more to get people through hurricanes or terrorist attacks at the core. It is people helping people communities working together, regardless of your origin, your political views, your religion, ethnicity, that's what pulls us through our strength.

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We learned that terrible day lies in our common humanity, in our willingness to step up in a crisis, to reach out and say, I've got you to someone else who is suffering.

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Thank you all for joining us today to remember and to reflect.

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Thank You chairman bissette fire chief James bonds, a no police chief J far and sheriff Beth Arthur will now join the Arlington County Public Safety combined honor guard and placing a wreath at the flagpole to honor those who lost their lives 16 years ago.

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Color right shoulder.

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Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our ceremony. Please keep those who lost their lives and your thoughts and prayers throughout the day. Please remain standing for the retiring of the colors.