Good morning. Scripture tells us, “We count as blessed those who have persevered.”
Secretary Hagel, General Dempsey, members of our Armed Forces, and, most of all, the survivors of that September day and the families of those we lost-Michelle and I are humbled to be with you once again.
It has now been 13 years. Thirteen years since the peace of an American morning was broken. Thirteen years since nearly 3,000 beautiful lives were taken from us, including 125 men and women serving here at the Pentagon. Thirteen years of moments they would have shared with us. Thirteen years of memories they would have made.
Here, once more, we pray for the souls of those we remember, for you, their families, who love them forever, and for a nation that has been inspired by your example-your determination to carry on, your resolve to live lives worthy of their memories.
As Americans, we draw strength from you. For your love is the ultimate rebuke to the hatred of those who attacked us that bright, blue morning. They sought to do more than bring down buildings or murder our people. They sought to break our spirit and to prove to the world that their power to destroy was greater than our power to persevere and to build. But you, and America, proved them wrong.
America endures in the strength of your families who, through your anguish, kept living. You have kept alive a love that no act of terror can ever extinguish. You, their sons and daughters, are growing into extraordinary young men and women they knew you could be. By your shining example, your families have turned this day into something that those who attacked us could never abide, and that is a tribute of hope over fear, and love over hate.
America endures in the tenacity of our survivors. After grievous wounds, you learned to walk again and stand again. After terrible burns, you smiled once more. For you, for our nation, these have been difficult years. But by your presence here today, in the lives of service that you have led, you embody the truth that no matter what comes our way, America will always come out stronger.
America endures in the dedication of those who keep us safe. The firefighter, the officer, the EMT who carries the memory of a fallen partner as they report to work each and every day, prepared to make the same sacrifice for us all. Because of these men and women, Americans now work in a gleaming Freedom Tower. We visit our great cities, we fill our stadiums and cheer for our teams. We carry on, because, as Americans, we do not give in to fear-ever.
America endures in the courage of the men and women who serve under our flag. Over more than a decade of war, this 9/11 Generation has answered our country's call, and three months from now, our combat mission in Afghanistan will come to an end. Today, we honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice these 13 years, more than 6,800 American patriots. And we give thanks to those who serve in harm's way to keep our country safe and meet the threats of our time.
America endures in that perennial optimism that defines us as a people. Beginning tomorrow, there will be teenagers-young adults-who were born after 9/11. It's remarkable. And while these young Americans did not know the horrors of that day, their lives have been shaped by all the days since-a time that has brought us pain, but also taught us endurance and strength; a time of rebuilding, of resilience, and of renewal. What gives us hope-what gives me hope -– is that it is these young Americans who will shape all the days to come.
Thirteen years after small and hateful minds conspired to break us, America stands tall and America stands proud. And guided by the values that sustain us, we will only grow stronger. Generations from now, Americans will still fill our parks, our stadiums, our cities. Generations from now, Americans will still build towers that reach toward the heavens; still serve in embassies that stand for freedom around the world; still wear the uniform and give meaning to those words written two centuries ago: Land of the free. Home of the Brave. Generations from now, no matter the trial, no matter the challenge, America will always be America.
“We count as blessed those who have persevered.”
May God bless your families, who continue to inspire us all. May God bless our Armed Forces and all who serve to keep us safe. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.
早上好。圣经告诉我们：“那些忍耐坚持的人是有福的。”
哈格尔部长、登普西将军、我军成员，特别是9月那一天的幸存者和遇难者的家属们—米歇尔和我今天怀着崇敬的心情与各位再次相聚。
13年了。美国一个平静早晨的被打破至今已经13年。将近3000个美丽的生命—包括五角大楼这里的125名男女工作人员—被从我们身边夺走已经13年。这是他们本应和我们一起度过的13年；是他们本可以创出很多记忆的13年。
在这里，让我们再次为我们所怀念的亡灵祈祷，为你们，他们的家人，永远爱着他们的人祈祷，为国家祈祷，是你们的榜样—你们继续前进的决心和你们为不辜负对他们的缅怀而继续生活下去的意志—激励了这个国家。
作为美国人，我们从你们身上汲取了力量，因为你们的爱是对那些在那个灿烂蔚蓝的早晨向我们发动攻击的仇恨势力的最有力反击。他们的企图不仅是要摧毁楼房建筑或要杀害我们的人民，而且是要摧毁我们的精神和向世界证明他们的破坏力可以远远大于我们的坚持力和我们的建设力。但是你们，和美国，证明他们失算了。
美国因为有你们家庭的坚强而坚韧，你们承受着极度痛苦继续生活。你们让爱得到永生，任何恐怖手段永远无法毁灭。你们，他们的儿女们，正在像他们所预知的那样，成长为出类拔萃的男女青年。作为家人，你们以自己光辉的榜样将这一天化为那些攻击者无法招架的力量，它是希望战胜恐惧、关爱战胜仇恨的赞歌。
美国因为有我们幸存者的顽强毅力而坚韧。你们在遭受极度创伤之后，重新学会行走，再一次站起来。你们在经受残酷的烧伤之后，又一次展示笑容。这些年对于你们，对于我们国家，都是非常艰难的岁月。但是，你们今天来到这里和你们为国服务的人生之路，说明了一个真理，这就是：无论将来我们遇到什么，美国永远会历经洗礼而更加强大。
美国因为有我们保安人员的奉献而坚韧。消防员、警卫人员、医疗急救员带着对遇难同事的怀念，日复一日走上岗位，随时准备为我们作出同样的牺牲。由于这些男女工作者，美国人今天可在明光锃亮的自由塔楼（Freedom Tower）办公。我们游览城市，我们涌入体育场为自己的球队加油。我们继续生活，因为，作为美国人，我们不向恐惧低头—永远不会。
美国因为有在国旗下效忠国家的男女志士的大无畏精神而坚韧。在历时超过十年之久的战争中，9/11一代（9/11 Generation）响应了国家的召唤。我们在阿富汗的作战使命将在三个月后结束。今天，让我们缅怀在这13年中付出最大牺牲的所有6800名美国爱国志士。让我们向为维护国家安全和应对时代威胁而身临险境的所有人表示感谢。
美国因为有作为我们全体人民共同特征的永恒乐观精神而坚韧。从明天开始，我们将有在9/11以后出生的第一代少年。这很有意义。这些美国少年虽然不曾经历那天的恐怖，但他们的生活打上了自那一时刻以来的每一天的烙印—那是带给我们痛苦的时刻，但也是一个让我们懂得坚韧与力量的时刻；是一个重建的时刻，一个复元的时刻，一个再生的时刻。令我们充满希望—令我充满希望—的是，未来就将由这批美国年轻人来打造。
在那些心地卑鄙，心怀仇恨的人阴谋摧毁我们的13年之后，美国高然耸立，美国傲然挺立。在使我们历久不衰的价值观的指引下，我们只会更加日益强大。多少代人之后，美国人会继续让我们的公园、体育场和城市人气旺盛；多少代人之后，美国人仍将建造通天塔楼；仍将在驻世界各地使馆捍卫自由；仍将身着戎装，为两个世纪以前的话语增光生辉：自由的国度；勇者的家园。多少代人之后，无论什么样的考验，什么样的挑战，美国将永远是美国。
“那些忍耐坚持的人是有福的。”
愿上帝保佑你们的家人，他们在继续激励我们所有人。愿上帝保佑我们的武装部队和所有维护我们安全的人。愿上帝继续保佑美利坚合众国。 |