September 11, 2023, 8:40 a.m.
U.S. Embassy Bucharest Flagpole
As prepared for delivery
Today we gather underneath the American flag to mark the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks against our nation and mourn the nearly 3,000 lives taken too soon.
The people who perished in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and Shanksville—including our heroic first responders who gave their lives to help others—left behind loved ones and communities that were changed forever.
We honor their lives and their memory on this solemn occasion, and we mourn what all Americans lost on that terrible day. We remember the courage and resolve of the American people – including the firefighters, police officers, emergency response personnel, our brave men and women in uniform.
Remembering 9/11 is a time for mourning for those who perished on that terrible day, but also a time to recall the unbelievable resilience of the American people.
We continue to be grateful to our allies and partners around the world, including Romania, who stood with us during one of our most difficult moments 22 years ago, today.
We will always remember the outpouring of support and sympathy we received from the Romanian government following the tragedy. This is one of the many reasons why our commitment to Romania remains unshakable.
We recognize the tremendous counterterrorism efforts of the last two decades, and we express our eternal gratitude to the military, law enforcement, diplomatic, and intelligence professionals who have sacrificed, and continue to sacrifice, to keep us safe.
As we mark this somber anniversary, we also look to the future and our hope to pursue a more peaceful world for generations to come.
Let us always remember the thousands of American heroes who were wounded or laid down their lives to keep the rest of us safe. Let us honor our sacred obligation to our veterans, colleagues and their families who have sacrificed for our nation and for the peace and security of all.
May our efforts as a Mission help to prevent any similar tragedy in the United States, in Romania, or anywhere in the world.
Please join me for a moment of silence after our Marines lower the flag to half-staff.
