2002 Speeches
Hearts Joined in Remembrance, Hands Joined in Resolve: Commemoration Ceremony at the U.S. Embassy Singapore
Remarks by Ambassador Frank L. Lavin
September 11, 2002
Let me begin by offering thanks to Joanne Blakemore and the American Association; to Minister Lee Yock Suan; to the Inter-Religious Organization, whose work to bring communities together is particularly noteworthy today; to the Peter Low Choir, whose fine voices add much to this ceremony; to Captain Tan of the Port Authority of New York, which suffered so heavily; and to Rabia Sarwar for the passage she read. And thank you to all of you for coming here today.
We gather to mark the horrific events of September 11. The victims have already written in blood and ash a more powerful statement than I can offer, but let me try to reflect.
September 11 was a day of tremendous tragedy, from the three thousand persons of some eighty nations who were murdered to the hundreds of thousands of relatives and friends around the world who felt the trauma of shattered lives.The Pennsylvania countryside has regained its serenity, the Pentagon has been rebuilt, and New York City is as vibrant as ever, but human lives are not so easy to repair. We join hearts in memory of the families and the survivors.
September 11 was also a day of tremendous heroism. It was a day when Jose Guadalupe and 336 other firefighters from the New York Fire Department perished, laying down their lives so that others might live. It was a day when Lt. Cdr. Dave Tarantino squeezed through a narrow hole in a Pentagon room filled with burning jet fuel to rescue a young man. It was a day when Todd Beamer and other passengers tackled the hijackers of Flight 93 with their bare hands, sacrificing their own lives but preventing an even greater tragedy.
September 11 was not only a day of tremendous tragedy -- not only a day of tremendous heroism -- September 11 was also a day of tremendous evil. The events of that day transpired not because of a natural disaster or a miscalculation, but because of calculation by a group of people who set out to murder as many as they could. And from the universal revulsion to evil comes the resolve we carry with us today. Resolve to defend ourselves and put an end to these terrorists. We remember those who died and we remember as well at whose hands they died.
Singapore was also tested by this evil last December when terrorist cells were uncovered here.Thanks to the quick work of the Singapore police, today we are commemorating only one day of horror and not two. We can all be thankful that the eyes of the world today are on the U.S., and not on the Yishun MRT.
Although the terrorists’ plans one year ago met with gruesome success, their broader goals have failed.The terrorists hoped that their crimes would divide the world, turning nation against nation and people against people. They hoped to hijack, not just airplanes, but a great religion. They attacked not one particular country, but all nations that believe in openness, tolerance, and pluralism.One year later, the world stands not divided, but united. One year later, it is not the civilized world that is on the run - it's the terrorists.
Look at Afghanistan. A brutal regime has been overthrown, millions of refugees have returned, women can attend school, and a terrorist base has been smashed. This victory came through the effort of some 70 nations and the Afghan people themselves. Despite the challenges that troubled land still faces, the greatest improvement over the past year in the daily lives of Muslims anywhere in the world has taken place in Afghanistan.
Here in Singapore, Minister Lee just noted Prime Minister Goh’s statement that, "Singapore stands with America and the rest of the civilized world in this struggle against terrorism." Indeed, Singapore has been a full member of the global anti-terrorist coalition, working in the U.N., ASEAN, and elsewhere to build support.
No less important is the response of average Singaporeans. One year ago at the embassy entrance thousands came to lay cards and flowers. They were from all segments of society, making a simple statement of humanity as they expressed their condolences. We Americans knew we were among friends, even when we were among strangers.From the bottom of our hearts, citizens of Singapore, we thank you.
We have much work ahead of us in this long twilight struggle, but the U.S., Singapore, and the civilized countries of the world are working together. We know that despite all of the limitations and human faults that can be found in our societies, we can justly be proud of our strengths. We cherish the openness, the inclusiveness, and the peace and prosperity that our nations have built. And we will not let terrorists take this from us.
In a moment, Joanne Blakemore will invite the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador Jorgen Moller, to ring the memorial bell. This will inaugurate a day of ringing which will end at 8:46 p.m., exactly one year after the first plane was flown into the World Trade Center.
For many of the survivors, life might always seem a cold winter day. For those of us who were not directly hurt by the tragedies, we can see a few signs of spring. The pain endures and so does the danger - but so does hope and human potential. Our aspirations for a world based on mutual respect and tolerance also endure. Brighter days lie in front of us.
Let us join together to ring the bells. We ring not just in mourning, but in celebration: celebration of lives of the deceased, and celebration of the heroism on September 11 and since. We ring in recognition of the progress we have made in the last year. We ring in commitment to bring about a better world.
Having come together in remembrance, we leave united in resolve. Thank you.