Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

September 11^th is a date we’ve come to dread in the past year and it is upon us again for the first time since barbarous acts of brutal proportions were visited upon our country in 2001. The day is still heavy with the unspeakable horrors we witnessed.

Last September 11^th was a day on which many millions of us in the United States of America found ourselves gripped with terror. At the same moment we felt the comforting embrace of many more millions around the world, themselves aggrieved by the terror of that day as we were. 

Perhaps many years in the future we will not rue this day quite so deeply or wish time to pass as quickly as we might have it pass today. If that is, indeed, the case, then it might well be due to the way we remember that day’s events, the lives lost, and the lives forever changed. It will be due also to the incredible resiliency of this country and its citizens—to our unequaled knack for pulling together as a nation—a nation of many races and many beliefs—to stand against any threat to the freedoms we have enjoyed for 226 years. Those freedoms are still ours today because of the wisdom and courage of our leaders throughout history and because of the valor and sacrifice of those who have fought to defend them.

George Mason High School is a strong, caring and supportive community. In difficult and trying times we have found that summoning our strength and support was the best thing we could do. Such was the case a year ago, and such is likely the case today as we mark this anniversary and move forward to tomorrow.

In this morning’s gathering, our students and members of our school staff will provide us an important opportunity to reflect on our freedoms and the values that underlie them.

Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and join in the singing of our National Anthem.