Rep. Flood in the Norfolk Daily News: 9/11 Memorial Ceremony Held in Columbus

This is an excerpt from '9/11 Memorial Ceremony Held in Columbus.' Read the full story by clicking here.

By Patrick Murphy

Friday morning’s 9/11 ceremony at the Freedom Eagle monument in the Higgins Memorial in Columbus marked the 25th anniversary of the attacks on American soil.

The ceremony in Columbus drew a large crowd to Higgins Memorial to pay tribute to those who died, and those first responders nationwide who bravely do their jobs every day.

U.S. Rep. Mike Flood said as much as 9/11 still haunts us, it also emphasized the resolve of the people of this country.

“It’s seared in my mind as I’m sure it is in yours,” Flood said. “Twenty-five years ago today there was not a cloud in the sky over Nebraska. It was as blue as blue could be, and what we thought was an unfortunate plane crash turned into a national nightmare. I was working at the radio station in Norfolk, and like you, watching the television, and the second plane, and then the Pentagon, and then a plane goes down in Pennsylvania, and our world changed. America changed.

We went to bed that night not knowing what to expect, but what we found out is those terrorists broke America’s heart, but they did not break our back.”

Flood said the people of this country acted as Americans — not Republicans, Democrats or Independents — fighting together for the country.

“And as bad as that day was, and it was horrific, the people in the towers, the firefighters, the police officers running to save Americans, the people in the Pentagon, to those brave Americans on that United flight ... to force their way into the cockpit to stop what would have been more horror,” Flood said.

“But the silver lining to what happened on 9/11 is we hunted down Osama bin Laden, and he died a very ugly death thanks to our armed forces,” he said. “We haven’t had one attack like that since 9/11 on any level because Americans came together. So I say again, the terrorists broke our hearts, but they did not break our backs. American is as strong and proud as we can be.”

The ceremony also included a recognition of victims and heroes and the laying of wreaths, a Presentation of the Colors by the Columbus Police Department, a moment of silence and the the national anthem performed by Columbus Middle School Vocal Tech.

The Rifle Volley gave the Salute the Dead by the American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard, and Taps was played by American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard.