* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:10] GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. WE TRULY APPRECIATE IT. MY NAME IS IKA KNIGHT AND I'D FIRST LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE UNIFIED H-P-D-H-F-D COLOR GUARD, AS WELL AS THE SINGING OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM BY MR. SCOTTY FRAZIER. HE'S AN IRAQ WAR VETERAN AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE US MARINE CORPS. IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE INDICATION LED BY CHAPLAIN TYLER HICKS WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENT ARM O SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHTS LAST GLEAMING WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PARALLEL FIGHT OR THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALL LAY STREAMING AND THE ROCKETS RED, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR, GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT A FLAG WAS STILL THERE. OH, SADDO, THAT STARS SPANGLED WAVE THE OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ARM. GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO PRAY WITH ME. HOLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR TODAY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE HERE WHO MADE THIS DAY POSSIBLE, WHO INVESTED TIME, ENERGY, AND EFFORT SO THAT WE MIGHT REMEMBER NINE 11. LORD, I COME BEFORE YOU WITH A HEAVY HEART AS I JUST THINK ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE THAT DAY. LORD, I WOULD JUST PRAY THAT, UH, FOR EVERYONE HERE, YOU WOULD JUST CREATE A POSTURE OF HUMILITY IN US, A POSTURE OF GRATEFULNESS. LORD, AS WE LOOK BACK THROUGH THE LENS ON THE EVENTS OF THIS DAY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS GREAT EVIL AND GREAT TERROR ON THAT DAY. BUT ALSO WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS WHO YOU CREATED, WHO YOU PLACED A CALLING ON THEIR LIVES, WHO STEPPED UP TO BE THEIR BROTHER'S KEEPER, WHO LOVED OTHERS MORE THAN THEY LOVED THEMSELVES, WHO RAN TOWARDS THE DANGER. AND LORD, ALTHOUGH WE LOST THOUSANDS, IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU AND THOSE YOU CREATED, I BELIEVED THE NUMBERS WOULD BE FAR GREATER. AND LORD, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HEAR THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO SACRIFICED. AND LORD, MAY WE JUST REMEMBER THEM. MAY WE BE HONORED JUST TO BE HERE AND TO PAY OUR RESPECTS AND WAY WE MAY WE MOVE FORWARD SEEKING TO HONOR THEM, TO HONOR AND GLORIFY YOU. AND LORD, I BRING ALL THESE THINGS BEFORE YOU AND I ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON'S NAME. AMEN. RIGHT, RIGHT. FOUR, MARK, YOU MAY BE SEATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN TO THE UNIFIED H-P-D-H-F-D, COLOR GUARD ALSO, MR. SCOTTY [00:05:01] FRAZIER AND CHAPLAIN TYLER HICKS. DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001? I WAS AT RICHMOND AND FANON, ACTUALLY, I JUST DROPPED MY BROTHER OFF AT, UH, HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON WHEN I, IT CAME ACROSS MY CAR RADIO THAT OUR NATION WAS UNDER ATTACK. AND TO THIS DAY, OUR HEARTS ARE STILL WITH OUR BRAVE FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR INCREDIBLE MILITARY HEROES, AND CERTAINLY THEIR FAMILIES. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS. HE IS, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE, TOO. GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF YOU. IT'S GOOD A BLESSING TO BE HERE AND CERTAINLY ON THIS DAY FOR ALL OF US, I WANT TO LET IT BE KNOWN TODAY THAT THERE'S ALWAYS AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO REMEMBER. FOR THOSE OF US WHO WALK IN THE SCRIPTURES OF FAITH. REMEMBER IN THE GREAT WORDS OF THE PROPHET, THE MOSES, THE PROPHET IN THE PEOPLE LEAVING EGYPT INTO THE PROMISED LAND. AND ONE OF THE COMMANDS THAT GOD GAVE HIM WAS TEACH THE PEOPLE TO REMEMBER, TEACH THEM TO REMEMBER. TODAY WE SOLEMNLY OBSERVE AND REMEMBER THE TRAGEDIES OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, 24 YEARS AGO. STILL, WE KEEP OUR PROMISE TO NEVER FORGET. SO I'M DEEPLY HONORED AND CERTAINLY TO STAND ON BEHALF OF THE, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR MAYOR, TO EXPRESS THESE WORDS AND GIVE CREDENCE TO THE FACT OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT WE MAY CONTINUE TO LIVE. EACH YEAR, WE REFLECT ON ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC DAYS IN US HISTORY, WHEN HIJACKED AIRLINERS CRASHED INTO THE NORTH AND SOUTH TOWERS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY, THE PENTAGON, IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, AND IN A FIELD IN SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. IN TOTAL 2,977 LIVES WERE LOST, INCLUDING 343 NEW YORK FIREFIGHTERS, 71 NEW YORK LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, 55 MILITARY PERSONNEL THAT WERE WORKING AT THE PENTAGON. ON THAT DAY, MANY FIRST RESPONDERS WERE COMMITTED TO RE TO RES RESCUING LIVES, PLACING THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR COURAGE TO HELP AND REMEMBER THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST WHILE FULFILLING THEIR MISSION. SADLY, MANY FIRST RESPONDERS AND CIVILIANS WOULD SUCCUMB YEARS LATER AS A DIRECT RESULT OF RESPONDING TO THE SEARCH AND RESCUE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. ON THIS DAY, WE ALSO PAUSE TO REMEMBER THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WOULD ANSWER THE NATION'S CALL OF DUTY DURING THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM. AS A FELLOW VETERAN VIETNAM VETERAN AND I UNDERSTAND WHEN THE CALL AND THE ORDER COMES, YOU HAVE TO GO NO MATTER WHAT. SADLY, SOME WOULD PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WHILE OTHERS WOULD RETURN HOME, HOME WITH LASTING MEMORIES OF WAR. WE ALSO HONOR THE FAMILIES THAT CONTINUE TO GRIEVE THEIR LOSS. ON THIS 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF NINE 11, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LIVES WERE LOST. CELEBRATE THE HEROES WHO RISK IT ALL TO SAVE OTHERS AND THANK THE SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE IN UNIFORM. LET'S CONTINUE TO HONOR THE VALUE OF LIFE, OUR COUNTRY'S RESILIENCE AND THE STRENGTH OF AMERICA SPIRIT AS WE CONTINUE OUR VOWS TO NEVER FORGET. I'M PRIVILEGED IN ORDER TO SHARE IN FELLOW THESE MEMBERS AND WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON CITY COUNCIL. SOME OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE WITH ME AS WE ALL WORK TOGETHER IN REGARDS TO THIS AS WE REPRESENT OUR CITY. I WANT TO TAKE THE MOMENT AND ASK THEM TO STAND IF THEY WOULD TO BE RECOGNIZED. COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER, COUNCIL MEMBER AMY VICK, OUR MICE VICE PRO, TIM COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ. THANK GOD FOR ALL OF THEM. AND LET'S CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR CITY, OUR NATION, OUR MAYOR, AND ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER, WHOEVER DID. [00:10:01] WHO ELSE DID I MISS? AND I MISS SOMEONE. OH, JUNIOR COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE ONE JULIA RAMIREZ. BUT WE THANK GOD AND WE PRAY FOR EACH AND EVERY, EVERYONE. AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER HERE, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM AS WE HONOR AND GIVE REMS TO THE DAY THAT WE SO ALL, UH, ARE GRATEFUL FOR. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR YOUR WORDS. AND, UH, AS HE HAS RECOGNIZED OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, ALSO ANY DIGNITARIES. WE'RE TALKING ALSO H-F-D-H-P-D LEADERSHIP. IF YOU ARE IN THE HOUSE, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS WELL, ANY SPECIAL GUEST, BUT ALSO OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. YOU GUYS ARE ALL AROUND. WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT IS TIME NOW FOR ME TO INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, ASSISTANT CHIEF MOHAMED KUCHA. HE'S WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. ASSISTANT CHIEF KAK IS A HOUSTON NATIVE THAT JOINED THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 2004 AT THE VERY YOUNG AGE OF 21 YEARS OLD. CURRENTLY SERVING AS ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE HAS HELD NUMEROUS LEADERSHIP ROLES, INCLUDING DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, ALSO COMMISSIONER FOR THE LITTLE YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT, ESD, NUMBER 17, CAPTAIN OF CADET INSTRUCTION, EMS SENIOR SUPERVISOR AND DISTRICT CHIEF OF DISTRICT 83, WHICH IS CURRENTLY THE MOST FIRE ACTIVE DISTRICT IN THE CITY THAT'S WRITTEN HERE. SO DON'T GET UPSET WITH ME IF YOU'RE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OKAY, WELL, HE HOLDS A MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN COMPLIMENTED BY THE EXECUTIVE FIRE CHIEF OFFICER CERTIFICATION WITH TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY ASSISTANT CHIEF HAMAD KUCHEN. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU MS. KNIGHT. UH, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS. I WANNA THANK OUR, OUR DIGNITARIES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR UNYIELDING SUPPORT. I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE. I WANNA THANK OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND WHAT YOU WERE WILLING TO DO OR ARE WILLING TO DO WHEN THE TIME IS CALLED. ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001 AT 8:46 AM AMERICAN AIRLINES, FLIGHT 11 STRUCK THE NORTH TOWER OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. 17 MINUTES LATER, UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 1 75 HIT THE SOUTH TOWER AT 9:37 AM AMERICAN AIRLINES, FLIGHT 77 STRUCK THE PENTAGON, AND AT 10:03 AM UNITED FLIGHT 93 CRASHED INTO SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA AFTER THE PASSENGERS MADE THE DECISION THAT THEIR PLANE WOULD NOT BE USED AS A WEAPON BY 10:28 AM BOTH TOWERS HAD FALLEN IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS. 2,977. INNOCENT LIVES WERE TAKEN AMONG THEM WERE 343 FIREFIGHTERS, 71 LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, AND 55 OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS. BUT THEIR STORIES DID NOT END IN A TRAGIC TRAGEDY ALONE. THEIR LIVES AND THEIR ACTIONS REMAINED SOME OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF COURAGE EVER WITNESSED. THIS DEPARTMENT HAS TAUGHT ME A GREAT MANY THINGS, PARTLY BECAUSE I WAS A YOUNG MAN WHEN I ENTERED, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE FIRE SERVICE, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO I GET TO SERVE WITH AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO I GET TO SERVE. ONE OF THOSE LESSONS I LEARNED WAS ABOUT 17 YEARS AGO WHEN I WORKED AT FIRE STATION 27 ON THE EAST END AT LIONS IN LATHAM. WE RECEIVED A CALL AT ABOUT 2:00 AM UM, FOR A WOMAN WHO, WHOSE MOTHER WAS DYING. WHEN WE GET THERE, SHE TELLS US THAT HER MOM'S GOT STAGE FOUR BRAIN CANCER AND THAT SHE'S IN HOSPICE CARE AND THAT SHE HAS A DO NOT RESUSCITATE, BUT SHE WANTS HER LOOKED AT. [00:15:01] SHE WANTS US TO BE THERE WITH HER. SO AS WE'RE LOOKING OVER, I CAN HEAR A LIGHT GURGLE IN THE BACK OF HER THROAT, AND THAT'S NORMAL AS THE MUSCULAR STARTS TO RELAX THE MUSCULATURE. AND SO I ASKED HER IF I COULD SUCTION HER MOM, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD WANTED TO SUCTION HER MOM, BUT THE MACHINE WASN'T WORKING. AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG LOOKING AT THE MACHINE THAT I NOTICED THE THE TUBING WASN'T PLUGGED, PLUGGED IN PROPERLY. AND SO AFTER I PLUGGED IT IN, SHE SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO DO IT. AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD DONE IT FOR HER FATHER JUST A FEW YEARS BEFORE THAT. AND SHE HAD MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO DO IT FOR HER SISTER NOT LONG BEFORE THAT. AND I STARTED THINKING TO MYSELF THAT MAYBE I WASN'T THERE FOR, FOR HER MOM. SO AS, AS WE TALKED A LITTLE LONGER, SHE TOLD ME ABOUT HER MOM AND WHAT A WONDERFUL PERSON SHE WAS. AND SHE TOLD ME ABOUT HOW SHE MADE THE GREATEST BUTTERMILK PIE EVER KNOWN TO MAN. AND I TOLD HER THAT MY GRANDMA USED TO MAKE ME CHOCOLATE CHIP PECAN COOKIES AND HIDE 'EM FOR ME. WHEN, WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THANKSGIVINGS AND CHRISTMASES. YOU KNOW, WE TALKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER AND I ASKED HER IF, IF WE COULD TRANSPORT HER MOM, AND SHE SAID NO, THIS WAS WHERE HER MOM WANTED TO BE. AND WHEN WE MADE IT OUT TOWARD THE, THE KITCHEN, UM, SHE STARTED TO CRY. AND, AND WE TALKED A LITTLE WHILE LONGER ABOUT HER MOM AND WE TALKED ABOUT GOD AND WE PRAYED AND, AND BEFORE I LEFT, SHE, SHE WANTED A HUG. AND WHO WAS I TO SAY NO? SO WE LEFT AND A FEW HOURS LATER I COULD HEAR BACK ON THE RADIO AS WE WERE TRANSPORTING SOMEONE ELSE TO THE HOSPITAL, THAT SAME ADDRESS. AND IT BROKE MY HEART. I I WANTED TO BE THERE, BUT I, I COULDN'T. SO SIX 30 IN THE MORNING COMES AND I'M RELIEVED OF DUTY AND I GO HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING I COME BACK AT, WELL BEFORE SIX 30. AND UH, AND SHE HAD BROUGHT IN CHOCOLATE CHIP PECAN COOKIES TO THE STATION. WELL, THE GUYS THAT WERE CONCERNED ABOUT MY A1C THOUGHT IT WAS BEST TO EAT THE COOKIES, BUT, BUT THEY LEFT THE NOTE. AND THAT'S WHERE THE LESSON WAS. THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD WAS. 'CAUSE IN THAT NOTE, SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED WERE WHAT SHE NEEDED TO MAKE IT THAT NEXT COUPLE HOURS. AND, UH, WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, THAT WAS IT. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT FORTIFY YOUR SPIRIT AND GIRDLE YOUR SOUL. SO I WANT US TO REMEMBER PEOPLE LIKE FATHER MICHAEL JUDGE FDN Y'S, BELOVED CHAPLAIN WHO RAN INTO THE TOWER ALONGSIDE FIREFIGHTERS TO PRAY WITH THE INJURED AND GIVE COMFORT. I WANT US TO REMEMBER BATTALION CHIEF PALMER, WHO ON THAT DAY, WHILE MOST PEOPLE WERE DESCENDING THE TOWER PALMER AND HIS TEAM CLIMB TO THE 78TH FLOOR OF THE SOUTH TOWER JUST BELOW THE IMPACT ZONE. HIS LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION WAS OF HIM AND HIS MEMBERS ATTACKING THE FIRE. I WANT US TO REMEMBER CAPTAIN PATRICK, PATTY BROWN OF LADDER THREE, KNOWN FOR HIS BRAVERY AND LOVE OF HIS MEN. HE WAS LAST HEARD ON THE RADIO REPORTING THE CONDITIONS OF THE 35TH FLOOR AND URGING HIS COMPANY FORWARD BECAUSE PEOPLE NEEDED THEM. WE REMEMBER THE COUNTLESS NAMED AND UNNAMED HEROES WHO CARRIED PEOPLE DOWNSTAIRS WHO STAYED WITH THE INJURES, WHO MAY HAVE FLED BUT DIDN'T, AND WHO PLACED OTHERS' LIVES ABOVE THEIRS. MANY PEOPLE ARE ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF THOSE NAMED AND NAMELESS MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE WILLING TO TAKE OTHERS BY THE HAND AND CARRY THEM DOWN THE STAIRS. AND THESE WEREN'T SUPERHEROES FROM A COMIC BOOK. THEY WERE ORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO WHEN NEEDED DISPLAYED EXTRA ORDINARY VALUES OF DUTY AND SACRIFICE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY KNEW THE RISKS, BUT THEY ALSO KNEW THEIR OATH AND THEY KNEW THEIR VALUES TO BOTH MAN AND GOD. THE STORY OF NINE 11 IS WRITTEN IN ASH, BUT IT TELLS OF COURAGE AND LOVE FOR OUR FELLOW PERSON, THE COURAGE OF THOSE WHO STEPPED INTO HARM'S WAY TO SEE OTHERS THROUGH. IT'S THE SAME SORT OF COMMUNITY AND RESILIENCE WE SEE HERE EVERY TIME CATASTROPHE HITS, WHETHER IT'S HARVEY OR THE HILL COUNTRY. SO TODAY AS WE HONOR THEIR MEMORY, WE MUST ALSO CARRY FORTH THEIR SPIRIT. LET US LIVE WITH THEIR COURAGE. LET US TREAT EACH AND EVERY ONE, LET THEIR COMPASSION AND LET US SERVE WITH THEIR SENSE OF DUTY. [00:20:02] ALWAYS READY, ALWAYS FAITHFUL, ALWAYS WILLING TO GIVE OF OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS. THE TRUE LEGACY OF SEPTEMBER 11TH IS NOT THE FALLING OF THE TOWERS. IT'S IN THE LIVES. SAVED, SAVED, THE SACRIFICES MADE, AND THE BROTHER AND SISTERHOOD SHOWN. IT TELLS A STORY OF THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE EVERYTHING FOR OTHERS. AND IT'S AN ECHO OF WHAT AMERICA HAS BEEN SINCE ITS CONCEPTION. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE. SO MAY WE NEVER FORGET AND MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER AND MAY WE ALWAYS LIVE IN A WAY THAT HONORS THAT SAME SPIRIT OF COURAGE, COMPASSION, AND COMMITMENT. THANK YOU ASSISTANT CHIEF. PLEASE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS AND THAT INCREDIBLE STORY. IT'S JUST A REMINDER THAT, UH, WHAT YOU DO AS FIRST RESPONDERS AND AS OUR INCREDIBLE MILITARY, IT MATTERS. IT REALLY, REALLY MATTERS. AND THAT STORY, YOU GOT ME THERE. OKAY. OKAY. WELL, I'D LIKE TO INVITE A SPECIAL GUEST TO THE STAGE NOW, MS. VICTORIA DEANGELO TOMPKINS. SHE, SHE'S A RETIRED NYPD DETECTIVE AND US NAVY VETERAN SHARING HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. MORNING, AFTERNOON. I'M NOT EVEN SURE ANYMORE. OKAY, GENTLEMEN, YOU PRETTY MUCH GAVE MY SPEECH FOR ME. JUST SO, UM, LIKE THEY SAID, I AM A NINE 11 FIRST RESPONDER VETERAN, NYPD, DETECTIVE NAVY VETERAN. AND MORE THAN TWO DECADES LATER, AFTER NINE 11, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THAT SPEAKING ABOUT THAT DAY REMAINS THE MOST DIFFICULT CONVERSATION I HAVE WITH ANYONE. THE IMAGES, THE SOUNDS, AND THE SMELLS IN THE AIR ARE STILL WITH ME, AND THEY ARE INDELIBLE. THE MORNING BEGAN WITH THE SKY SO CLEAR IT WAS ALMOST PERFECT. IT WAS ALSO A PRIMARY DAY IN NEW YORK CITY FOR THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS AND A DAY YOU WOULD NEVER FORGET. BUT FOR REASONS NO ONE COULD IMAGINE. IN THE SPAN OF 102 MINUTES, OUR WORLD CHANGED. THE TOWERS WERE HIT, THE TOWERS FELL, THE PENTAGON WAS HIT. AND THOSE BRAVE, HEROIC PASSENGERS ON FLIGHT IN 93 GAVE THEIR LIVES. SO ANOTHER ATTACK DIDN'T HAPPEN. SORRY. WHEN I REPORTED TO GROUND ZERO, I STEPPED INTO DEVASTATION BEYOND IMAGINATION AND COMPREHENSION. AS FIRST RESPONDERS, WE TRAIN FOR EVERYDAY TYPES OF CALLS, CATASTROPHES, ACCIDENTS, FIRES, CRIMES, EVEN LARGE SCALE EMERGENCIES COMING FROM NEW YORK, IT'S ALMOST ROUTINE. BUT THIS WAS LIKE NOTHING ANYBODY OR ANY OF US HAD EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. THIS WAS A WAR. THESE TERRORISTS TORE OPEN OUR FRONT DOOR AND CAME IN. THEY CAME FOR US. THEY CAME FOR OUR LOVED ONES, AND WE WERE THE SHIELD THAT STOOD BETWEEN THEM AND THE CHAOS THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD WAS WITNESSING. EVERY MAN AND WOMAN IN UNIFORM THAT DAY ANSWERED THE CALL. THERE ARE AS MANY STORIES ABOUT NINE 11 AS THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED. THE AIR WAS THICK, IT WAS ALMOST SUFFOCATING. THE DUST THAT COVERED US WAS NOT JUST THE DEBRIS, IT WAS STEEL, IT WAS GLASS, IT WAS WOOD PAPER. AND YES, THE REMAINS OF THOSE WHO WILL NO LONGER WITH US, WE WERE TOLD TO TREAT EVERYTHING AS EVIDENCE BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. THE SITE WAS A CRIME SCENE THAT COVERED MORE THAN 14 ACRES. AND THERE WAS NO TIME FOR US TO THINK YOU JUST MOVED, YOU GOT TO WORK. WE SEARCHED THE BUILDINGS THAT WERE STILL STANDING FLOOR BY FLOOR AND ROOM BY ROOM. WE HAD LITTLE MORE THAN WHISTLES, GLOVES, HELMETS, AND BUCKETS AT THAT TIME. BUT WE PRESSED ON HOPING AND PRAYING [00:25:01] FOR SURVIVORS. WHAT WE FOUND INSTEAD WERE FRAGMENTS OF LIVES. A WEDDING RING, A WALLET, A PHOTOGRAPH, AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING. AND SOMETIMES UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WERE THE REMAINS. AT TIMES IT FELT OVERWHELMING TO US. AND THOSE ARE IMAGES THAT YOU NEVER FORGET. FOR NEARLY THREE MONTHS, I WORKED BETWEEN GROUND ZERO, THE STATEN ISLAND LANDFILL, AND THE AREAS SURROUNDING THE SITE. THE HOURS WERE LONG AND ARDUOUS, SOMETIMES 12 TO 18. AND IN THE BEGINNING, THE HARDEST PART FOR US WAS THE SILENCE. DOCTORS, NURSES, EMTS STOOD AT THE READY AT TRIAGE STATIONS AND PRAYING AS WE ALL DID THAT SOMEONE WOULD BE PULLED OUT ALIVE, A WHISTLE, A SIREN, OR A BULLHORN WOULD SOUND. AND WE WOULD STOP AND LISTEN, STRAINING TO HEAR A VOICE, A TAPPING, A SIGN, SOMETHING, ANYTHING. BUT AS THE DAY WORE ON AND HOPE FAINTED IN THE END, JUST 18 PEOPLE WERE PULLED OUT ALIVE. I LOST FRIENDS THAT DAY. THOSE I TRAINED WITH, I WORKED ALONGSIDE, LAUGHED AND EVEN CRIED WITH HEROES WHO WOULD NEVER COME HOME. FOR A LONG TIME I COULDN'T CRY. IT WAS A LUXURY I COULDN'T AFFORD. SO WE DID WHAT WE WERE TRAINED TO DO. WE STAYED FOCUSED. OUR JOB WAS TO BRING THESE FAMILIES CLOSURE AND ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE VICTIM WAS TREATED WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THEY DESERVED. THAT'S WHAT MATTERED TO US MOST. AND YET, IN THE MIDST OF THE WORST ATTACK ON AMERICAN SOIL CAME MY GREATEST REFLECTIONS OF THAT DAY. OUT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE INHUMANITY CAME OUR HUMANITY. VOLUNTEERS POURED IN FROM ALL OVER. EVERYDAY CITIZENS AND FELLOW RESPONDERS STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH US. AMERICA STOOD TALL, RESILIENT, UNWAVERING, AND PROUD. THIS TRULY WAS OUR DEFINING MOMENT. THE STORY OF NINE 11 DOES NOT END THAT DAY. AND WE MUST STILL REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2012 IN BENGHAZI. BUT BEFORE THAT, AND BEFORE NINE 11, 2001, THERE WAS FEBRUARY 26TH, 1993, THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO TAKE DOWN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND A RIDER TRUCK THAT FAILED. THE RIPPLE EFFECTS FROM THAT DAY ALSO STRETCH ACROSS THE WORLD. NEARLY 7,000 US SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. IN POST NINE 11 WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WITH THOUSANDS MORE CARRYING WOUNDS, BOTH SEEN AND UNSEEN, THEIR SACRIFICE MUST BE REMEMBERED AS PART OF THE LEGACY OF NINE 11. SINCE THEN, MORE FIRST RESPONDERS AND SURVIVORS HAVE DIED FROM NINE 11 RELATED CANCERS, CANCERS AND ILLNESSES THEN WERE KILLED ON NINE 11 ITSELF. AND EVERY YEAR OUR NUMBERS KEEP GROWING. I NEVER WANNA SEE ANOTHER NINE 11, THE HORROR, THE LOSS, AND THE UNIMAGINABLE DEVASTATION. BUT I DO MISS NINE 12 ON THAT DAY, WE WERE NOT DIVIDED BY POLITICS, BY RACE, BY CREED, BY COLOR. WE WERE SIMPLY AMERICANS UNITED IN GRIEF, BUT ALSO IN OUR RESOLVE FLAGS WAVED ON EVERY PORCH. STRANGERS CARED FOR ONE ANOTHER. BLOODLINES WERE JUST INSANE. AND THE VERY BEST OF US WROTE OUT OF ROSE OUTTA THE ASHES THAT DAY, THAT SPIRIT OF UNITY, RESILIENCE, AND LOVE OF COUNTRY AND LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER CARRIED US THEN. AND IT IS THE VERY SPIRIT WE STILL NEED NOW. SO 24 YEARS LATER, I STAND HERE WITH GRATITUDE TO THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR THE CARDS AND LETTERS, THE PRAYERS AND THE DONATIONS, THE SUPPLIES. AS THAT FIRST RESPONDER, WE HEARD YOU. WE READ YOUR WORDS, AND WE FELT YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. YOU KEPT US GOING. YOU GAVE US STRENGTH. SO ALWAYS REMEMBER THE STRENGTH OF THIS NATION IS FOUND IN OUR UNITY. TOGETHER WE WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL AND WE WILL ALWAYS HEAL. AND TOGETHER WE WILL ENSURE THAT WE WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET. SO GOD BLESS YOU ALL. GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU [00:30:01] VERY MUCH, MS. VICTORIA DEANGELO, TOMPKINS, OUR HEARTS ARE CERTAINLY WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. MAY WE NEVER, EVER, EVER FORGET. THANK YOU AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHAPLAIN VINCENT JOHNSON, HPD, FOR OUR BENEDICTION. JOHN 15 AND THREE SAYS, NO GREATER LOVE THAN THIS, THAN A MAN WHO WILL LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR A FRIEND. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD. A PEACEMAKER IS NOT JUST A POLICE OFFICER. A PEACEMAKER IS A PERSON WITH A HEART TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, TO MAKE THINGS PEACEFUL, TO FIX THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN. WE ALL SHOULD BE MOTIVATED TO BE PEACEMAKERS. LET US PRAY. OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE. WE ASK THAT YOU JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. KEEP US SAFE FROM HARM. LET US NOT FORGET THOSE WHO MADE SACRIFICES. THEY SACRIFICE WITHOUT REGRET. THEY LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES SO THAT THEY COULD SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO WENT BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TO RESCUE, TO RESUSCITATE AND TO REVIVE. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE HERE TODAY WHO HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS GREAT CEREMONY. WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS EACH AND EVERY HOUSEHOLD THAT IS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE ALL CAN COME TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF WHAT RACE, CREED, OR COLOR. BUT WE COME TOGETHER AS HUMAN BEINGS. WE COME TOGETHER AS PEACEMAKERS, AND WE THANK YOU MASTER FOR THIS GRAND OPPORTUNITY. WE ASK THAT YOUR WILL CONTINUE TO BE DONE AND WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US TRAVELING. GRACE, WHEN WE LEAVE THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION. IS IT YOUR SON'S PRECIOUS NAME THAT WE PRAY AND GIVE THANKS? WOULD EVERYONE SAY AMEN? THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAPLAIN. AND BEFORE WE LEAVE, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, MRS. LASANDRA JONES AND ALSO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND ONE FINAL THOUGHT HERE. FINAL REMARKS WILL COME FROM CAPTAIN UH, MARK LIMON. HE IS AN HONOR GOD MEMBER WITH THE HFD TO EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE END OF WATCH BILL READY FACE. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I'M HONOR GUARD MEMBER MARK LAMAN. I'M ACCOMPANIED BY HONOR GUARD MEMBER ELENA TORRES. AND I WILL OFFER A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BELL AND SHE WILL RING THE BELL. AND IT IS AN HONOR TO PARTICIPATE TODAY. THE BELL DATES BACK OVER 200 PLUS YEARS TO THE CREATION OF THE FIRE SERVICE. DURING THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ERROR, THE BELL WAS USED TO NOTIFY FIREFIGHTERS THAT THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY IN THEIR RESPONSE AREA. THEY NEEDED TO RESPOND AND MITIGATE THE SITUATION. THE BILL WAS ALSO USED TO NOTIFY FIREFIGHTERS THAT THE SITUATION HAD BEEN MITIGATED. THEY NEEDED TO PICK UP THEIR EQUIPMENT AND HOSE RETURN TO QUARTERS AND AWAIT THEIR NEXT ASSIGNMENT. IN A FEW MOMENTS, YOU'LL HEAR SEVEN GONGS FOLLOWED BY ONE. TO LET YOU KNOW AND HONOR ALL THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES ON NINE 11 AS THEY AWAIT THEIR NEXT ASSIGNMENT IN HEAVEN. AT THIS TIME, CAN I PLEASE HAVE ALL UNIFORM PERSONNEL, ALL CURRENT AND RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS, POLICEMEN, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT? PLEASE STAND ALL UNIFORM. PERSONNEL ATTEND SHUN. PRESENT ARMS, [00:35:15] ORDER ARMS. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S CEREMONY. READY FACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.