September 11 remembrance

September 11 remembrance,On the 11th anniversary of September 11, 2001 leaders in Mecklenburg County declared an official day of remembrance.

The statement below is directly from the office of Mayor Foxx. The proclamation was signed by both Mayor Foxx and Harold Cogdell, Jr. - the Chairman of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. The statement below has not been altered.

Proclamation
City of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County

WHEREAS, at 8:46 a.m., on September 11, 2001, hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the upper portion of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, New York; and

WHEREAS, 17 minutes later, at 9:03 a.m., hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center; and

WHEREAS, at 9:37 a.m., the west wall of the Pentagon was hit by hijacked American Airlines Flight 77, the impact of which caused immediate and catastrophic damage to the headquarters of the Department of Defense; and

WHEREAS, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the passengers and crew of hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 acted heroically to retake control of the airplane and thwart the taking of additional American lives by crashing the airliner in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and, in doing so, gave their lives to save countless others; and

WHEREAS, nearly 3,000 innocent civilians were killed in the heinous attacks of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, tens of thousands of individuals narrowly escaped the attacks at the Pentagon and World Trade Center and, as witnesses to this tragedy, are forever changed; and

WHEREAS, countless fire departments, police departments, first responders, governmental officials, workers, emergency medical personnel, and volunteers responded immediately and heroically to those horrific events; and

WHEREAS, the Fire Department of New York suffered 343 fatalities on September 11, 2001, the largest loss of life of any emergency response agency in United States history; and

WHEREAS, the Port Authority Police Department suffered 37 fatalities in the attacks, the largest loss of life of any police force in United States history in a single day; and

WHEREAS, the New York Police Department suffered 23 fatalities as a result of the terrorist attacks; and

WHEREAS, 11 years later, the people of the United States and people around the world continue to mourn the tremendous loss of innocent life on that fateful day; and

WHEREAS, 11 years later, thousands of men and women in the United States Armed Forces remain in harm's way defending the United States against those who seek to threaten the United States; and

WHEREAS, on the 11th anniversary of this tragic day, the thoughts of the people of the United States are with all of the victims of the events of September 11, 2001 and their families; and

WHEREAS, the lives of Americans were changed forever on September 11, 2001, when events threatened the American way of life; and

WHEREAS, in 2009, Congress and the President joined together to designate September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under the Serve America Act; and

WHEREAS, in September 2009 and 2010, President Obama issued Proclamation 8413 and Proclamation 8559 proclaiming September 11, 2009, and September 11, 2010, respectively, as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance; and

WHEREAS, September 11 will never, and should never, be just another day in the hearts and minds of all people of the United States; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the governing bodies of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County:

(1) recognize September 11, 2012, as a day of solemn commemoration of the events of September 11, 2001, and a day to come together as a Nation; and

(2) offer its deepest and most sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the innocent victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; and

(3) honor the heroic service, actions, and sacrifices of first responders, law enforcement personnel, State and local officials, volunteers, and countless others who aided the innocent victims of those attacks and, in doing so, bravely risked and often gave their own lives; and

(4) recognize the valiant service, actions, and sacrifices of United States personnel, including members of the United States Armed Forces, the United States intelligence agencies, the United States diplomatic service, homeland security and law enforcement personnel, and their families,
who have given so much, including their lives and well-being, to support the cause of freedom and defend the security of the United States; and

(5) reaffirm that the people of the United States will never forget the challenges our country endured on and since September 11, 2001, and will work tirelessly to defeat those who attacked the United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that on the 11th anniversary of this tragic day in United States history the governing bodies of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County call upon all of the people and institutions of Charlotte-Mecklenburg to observe a moment of remembrance on September 11, 2012, including (i) media outlets; (ii) houses of worship; (iii) veterans organizations; (iv) airlines; (v) airports; (vi) railroads; (vii) sports teams; (viii) local governments; (ix) police, fire, and other public institutions; (x) educational institutions; (xi) businesses; and (xii) other public and private institutions; and

NOW, THEREFORE, WE, Anthony R. Foxx, Mayor of Charlotte, and Harold Cogdell, Jr, Chairman of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim,
September 11, 2012 as

"SEPTEMBER 11 REMEMBRANCE DAY"

in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and commend its observance to all citizens.

WITNESS OUR HANDS and the official Seals of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

source: wbtv