11 December 2001

Remarks by Ambassador Mel Sembler at Anniversary Ceremony for the September 11 Attacks, December 11, 2001

Anniversary Ceremony for September 11 Attacks
U.S. Embassy Rome
December 11, 2001

President Pera, president Casini, minister Pisanu, under secretary Letta, president Storace, president Moffa, excellencies, special guests, ladies and gentlemen:

Three months ago, at this very hour, we watched horrified as commercial jets slammed into the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. We experienced terrorism in its cruelest aspects, but we also saw heroism on a grand scale.

We saw our firemen, rescue workers, and police officers ignore the many dangers and rush to help, to save, others. We saw ordinary people act with extraordinary bravery.

Just last week, two of these heroes, both New York firefighters, presented our Embassy with an urn containing earth from ground zero and a flag that flew over the area in the days after the attack. That ground, now hallowed, and that flag, now sacred to our memories, is here in our Mission. We plan to put them on permanent display in the Embassy, a reminder to all of us of the senseless loss, but also of the true courage which we witnessed three months ago. In that regard, I would like to acknowledge the presence of comandante Colcerasa of the fire academy, and general Lombardo of the Italian corps of engineers.

Today, we mourn the victims of September 11. On that cruel day, over 3,000 innocents died. They were of all races and religious faiths. They came from more than 80 countries and, sadly, included at least 10 Italians. We remember their families and friends, people who enter the holiday season deprived of a father or mother, brother or sister, son or daughter. We also remember and thank those who comforted us at our darkest moment, including those many thousands of Italians, from every region and from every walk of life. They are -- you are -- good friends all.

And today we also re-commit ourselves to the fight against terrorism. We tell the terrorists, publicly and fearlessly, that we will not rest until we have defeated them. For we know that if we do not defeat them, if we do not eliminate entirely this threat to our people and our societies, then surely they will attack again and again. They will take more innocent lives and will disrupt our daily lives. We must and will defeat them.

We have made an encouraging start. The United States, Italy, and our coalition partners have arrested many of Osama bin Laden’s confederates and frozen their financial assets.

Italy, especially, has been conspicuous in its success in these two areas. Italy has also sent a fleet to the region, another clear manifestation of this country’s commitment to the cause.

On November 20, a spokesman for the terrorists told us that we should simply "forget" the events of September 11. Forget? Forget the cowardly attack on American soil? Forget the thousands who died, of every race and religion? Forget devastated families and grieving friends? Forget the attack on freedom… Never! Defeat the terrorists…yes.

But our task will not be easy. It will not happen quickly. But working together, we will defeat terrorism. Our friends and allies, brave men and women, are fighting and winning against the forces of terror, in Afghanistan, and throughout the world.

Thank you for joining us today.