Dixon Heitman Honors Lives Lost in September 11, 2001 Attacks on the 25th Anniversary

PLAINFIELD, Ill. — State Representative Jessica Dixon Heitman, D-Plainfield, released the following statement reflecting on the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001:

“We all remember where we were on September 11, 2001. So many Americans are too young to remember the devastation of that day, but the impact has reverberated into a new generation. Our daughters and sons might not have been there, but they know the impact felt across the nation. 

“The heroics of New York’s finest that day can’t be understated. The police officers, firefighters, emergency responders and everyone else on the scene are true heroes. From the healthcare workers who provided care for survivors to the passengers who fought their hijackers, we truly saw some of the clearest examples of patriotism—even as our nation was under attack. 

“Today we remember those who lost their friends and family 25 years ago, and in the aftermath of the tragedy since then. No fatality number truly represents how many people’s lives were changed in this act of terror and cowardice. It changed us as a nation, and as people. 

“In 2001, we rallied around our neighbors, friends, community members, and first responders. We were united as Americans deep into our core. I hope today, as we remember the lives lost on September 11, we also remember what it was like to put our differences aside and truly embody our name as the United States of America.”