William Tyler Page, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, wrote “The American's Creed” in 1917. It was accepted by the House on behalf of the American people on April 3, 1918.
Where were you?
Where were you 11 years ago? I had just arrived at work when I heard the news that changed our lives forever. We gathered to hear the news on a television, and in stunned silence watched as the second tower was hit. Wave after wave of broadcasts told us what was happening almost as it occurred. No one knew if this was the beginning of something or an isolated incident, and we were all fearful of what would happen next and where.
Washington DC then Pennsylvania appeared on the news and normally calm newscasters gave unguarded and personal accounts of what they saw. We heard report after report of strangers reaching out to each other, valiant men and women sacrificing their lives to save other. In the days and weeks that followed, people untouched personally gave deeply of their time and money to help those left devastated in the aftermath.
Today I participated in a remembrance ceremony in Auburn, NY at City Hall, at the monument erected last year to commemorate the 10th year since the attacks took place. Surrounded by military, police, fire and rescue personnel, politicians and civilians we once more renewed our pledge to each other and to our country:
“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”
