SAIPAN Mayor David M. Apatang on Thursday delivered a “message of peace” in commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the U.S.
A Vietnam War veteran, Apatang, said, “The meaning of peace is one we all know and cherish deep down in our hearts. But when chaos erupts and it threatens our peace, we fall into fear.”
“Twenty-years ago,” he added, “the peace of the United States of America was threatened by sudden, murderous attacks by evil forces whose principles of life and liberty were at odds with the United States and the rest of the civilized world. Many perished in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and the world’s economy was significantly impacted to a halt.”
He said we should continue to “honor our loved ones who did not go home to their families that day. We pray for their peace and remember their many contributions to make our nation and the world a better place.”
At the same time, the mayor said, “We honor and salute our nation’s front liners who responded to the call to bring calm, order, and a sense of security following the attacks. We owe a debt of great gratitude to all firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, and citizens for their commitment to face fear straight in the eye for one purpose – bringing our nation immediately back to order and normalcy.”
According to the mayor, “The fight against terrorism is a testament that the United States indeed is a world power. On this 20th memorial anniversary after the attacks, we continue to recognize and profoundly appreciate the sacrifices of our nation’s armed forces. Many perished in the war to rid our world of terrorism and other factions that meant to bring harm and loss to our nation’s citizens. We pray for and honor our fallen heroes every day and especially on this twentieth anniversary. We give our sincerest thank you to the women and men in uniform who constantly put their lives in harm’s way to protect our peace and lives. It is with an abundance of gratitude that we salute and honor them this September 11. To all surviving families, we did not falter in the fight against evil. We remain stronger because of you,” he added.
The nation, the mayor said, “knows no fear because each one of us, banded together, make our nation the strongest in the world. Our nation made the terrorists responsible for the attacks pay.”
