Welch statement on the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack

Rep. Peter Welch issued the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack:

"September 11, 2001 was a defining moment in the life of every American. The immediacy of the violence, the scale of the destruction, and the heartbreaking loss of life have seared this date in our collective memory.

"The victims on that awful day are never far from our thoughts and prayers. Nor are the service members who have sacrificed their lives in support of America's response to this senseless act of terrorism.

"If this unfathomable act of terror exposed the dark side of human nature, the response by Americans that day reminds us of the bright light of the human spirit. Brave first responders rushed into collapsing buildings with little regard for their safety. Ordinary citizens in a plane over Pennsylvania sacrificed their lives to save complete strangers. And all over the country, Americans responded with characteristic compassion and a generosity of spirit."

"Ten years later, that spirit remains strong. It defines us as a people. And it remains a source of great strength in overcoming adversity."