WEBVTT 1 00:00:08.241 --> 00:00:11.211 Welcome to the St. Elizabeth's campus. 2 00:00:11.211 --> 00:00:14.981 We ask all guests to rise at this time for the presentation of colors 3 00:00:15.348 --> 00:00:17.617 by the DHS Joint Color Guard. 4 00:00:18.351 --> 00:00:21.021 They will be followed by the singing of our National Anthem 5 00:00:21.421 --> 00:00:26.559 by Tabitha Massenberg and an invocation by Chaplain Cynthia Wilson. 6 00:01:20.947 --> 00:01:31.391 O say, can you see, By the dawn's 7 00:01:31.391 --> 00:01:41.301 early light, What so proudly we'd hailed, 8 00:01:41.301 --> 00:01:46.940 At the twilight's last gleaming? 9 00:01:46.940 --> 00:01:51.411 Whose broad stripes and bright stars, 10 00:01:52.312 --> 00:02:00.353 Through the perilous fight, 11 00:02:00.353 --> 00:02:06.192 O'er the ramparts we watched, 12 00:02:06.192 --> 00:02:13.166 were so gallantly streaming? 13 00:02:13.166 --> 00:02:19.205 And the rockets red glare 14 00:02:19.205 --> 00:02:25.578 The bombs bursting in air 15 00:02:25.612 --> 00:02:31.684 Gave proof through the night, 16 00:02:31.684 --> 00:02:37.056 that our flag was still there. 17 00:02:37.056 --> 00:02:51.671 Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave 18 00:02:51.671 --> 00:02:59.078 O'er the land of the free, 19 00:02:59.078 --> 00:03:08.755 And the home of the brave? 20 00:03:34.047 --> 00:03:37.850 Good morning. 21 00:03:37.850 --> 00:03:40.887 Let us pause for a moment of silence. 22 00:03:57.837 --> 00:04:01.140 Let us pray. Dear God, 23 00:04:02.942 --> 00:04:06.446 as we reflect on the last 20 years since 9/11, 24 00:04:07.614 --> 00:04:10.149 we remember what we lost that day 25 00:04:10.149 --> 00:04:12.986 and the many sacrifices of the last 20 years. 26 00:04:13.987 --> 00:04:18.191 We are so grateful, God, to you and your people who have 27 00:04:18.691 --> 00:04:21.995 and continue to dedicate their efforts toward protecting our country. 28 00:04:23.062 --> 00:04:26.132 You have shown us that we are a nation that will not give up. 29 00:04:26.933 --> 00:04:29.068 That will not bow down. 30 00:04:29.068 --> 00:04:32.772 That will not allow the hatred that penetrated our nation to prevail. 31 00:04:33.539 --> 00:04:36.009 For with you, we are a strong people 32 00:04:36.709 --> 00:04:38.945 united in our love for this great country. 33 00:04:39.612 --> 00:04:42.882 God, we pray that you will continue to build a hedge of protection 34 00:04:42.882 --> 00:04:46.519 around us, that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. 35 00:04:47.153 --> 00:04:51.691 We pray that you will continue to comfort us and overshadow us with your presence. 36 00:04:52.358 --> 00:04:55.962 Cover the families under your canopy of love and peace. 37 00:04:55.962 --> 00:04:58.097 For in the face of brokenness, 38 00:04:58.431 --> 00:05:01.901 we stood on your word, knowing that you will never leave us 39 00:05:02.268 --> 00:05:06.539 nor forsake us. As days, months and years have gone by, 40 00:05:07.206 --> 00:05:09.542 we thank you for the resilience of our people. 41 00:05:10.176 --> 00:05:11.344 We pray that the families 42 00:05:11.344 --> 00:05:14.914 always know that you are the provider who never sleeps. 43 00:05:15.615 --> 00:05:18.351 Let your perpetual light shine upon all of us 44 00:05:18.751 --> 00:05:21.454 in your great name. We pray. Amen. 45 00:05:22.922 --> 00:05:24.424 You may be seated. 46 00:05:31.297 --> 00:05:35.268 Good morning, Chaplain, thank you for the invocation. 47 00:05:36.035 --> 00:05:39.439 Thank you for the beautiful rendition of our National Anthem. 48 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:41.908 And to the Color Guard, thank you for 49 00:05:43.009 --> 00:05:47.113 presenting the flags that mean so much to our country and 50 00:05:48.681 --> 00:05:50.950 send such an important message to the world. 51 00:05:51.250 --> 00:05:54.354 Thank you all for taking the time this morning, those of you in person 52 00:05:54.654 --> 00:05:57.190 and, of course, those of you watching. 53 00:05:57.690 --> 00:06:02.295 I want to mention a special guest this morning, my friend, 54 00:06:02.295 --> 00:06:06.332 and an alumnus, a distinguished alumnus of the U.S. 55 00:06:06.332 --> 00:06:10.236 Department of Homeland Security, former secretary Elaine Duke. 56 00:06:10.236 --> 00:06:13.873 And thank you so much, Elaine, for being here this morning. 57 00:06:15.441 --> 00:06:18.411 You know, amidst the rubble 58 00:06:18.411 --> 00:06:23.783 of 9/11, a tree was discovered to still remain standing 59 00:06:24.884 --> 00:06:27.453 and struggling to remain alive, but indeed, 60 00:06:28.721 --> 00:06:32.992 as devastated as it was, it was alive. 61 00:06:33.493 --> 00:06:36.195 A callery pear tree. 62 00:06:36.195 --> 00:06:39.799 And it was rehabilitated and restored 63 00:06:40.466 --> 00:06:44.971 by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. 64 00:06:45.872 --> 00:06:51.043 And it was planted and remains to this day at the 9/11 memorial. 65 00:06:52.612 --> 00:06:58.384 And a tradition was established that seedlings from the tree 66 00:06:59.218 --> 00:07:02.989 would be planted in cities, in communities 67 00:07:03.289 --> 00:07:06.993 that had suffered tragedy and very much suffering. 68 00:07:07.460 --> 00:07:12.498 Unfortunately, there are quite a number of those cities over the past 20 years, 69 00:07:12.932 --> 00:07:16.803 whether it's Boston, Newtown, Charleston 70 00:07:17.870 --> 00:07:20.440 and many, many others. 71 00:07:20.440 --> 00:07:22.909 The seedlings, though, are also distributed 72 00:07:23.242 --> 00:07:28.548 to locations to pay tribute to and honor 73 00:07:30.516 --> 00:07:33.085 where work is done 74 00:07:34.253 --> 00:07:36.756 in the shadow of 9/11; 75 00:07:36.756 --> 00:07:40.259 that has brought us out of that shadow 76 00:07:40.526 --> 00:07:43.162 and speaks of a very promising future. 77 00:07:43.863 --> 00:07:45.264 And we here in the U.S. 78 00:07:45.264 --> 00:07:49.669 Department of Homeland Security, at our headquarters, are very proud 79 00:07:49.669 --> 00:07:52.104 to receive one of those seedlings today. 80 00:07:52.605 --> 00:07:56.509 The tree, I think, represents something extremely important. 81 00:07:56.843 --> 00:08:02.148 It is a symbol of resilience and an unwillingness 82 00:08:03.883 --> 00:08:08.054 to surrender to forces that tried to destroy us. 83 00:08:09.755 --> 00:08:13.025 And we are a recipient 84 00:08:13.726 --> 00:08:16.162 of a seedling because of all of you, 85 00:08:17.230 --> 00:08:18.931 because of the work that you do. 86 00:08:18.931 --> 00:08:23.536 And I think that the greatest way that we can pay tribute 87 00:08:24.203 --> 00:08:27.607 to those who lost their lives on 9/11 88 00:08:28.541 --> 00:08:32.812 and in the days, weeks, months and years after 9/11 89 00:08:33.246 --> 00:08:38.117 because of that devastating attack, whether it be illness or other causes, 90 00:08:39.252 --> 00:08:41.287 is through the work that we do. 91 00:08:42.221 --> 00:08:44.857 And I am incredibly proud that our department 92 00:08:45.758 --> 00:08:48.327 is a place where a seed can be planted 93 00:08:48.861 --> 00:08:54.433 from that callery pear tree and can grow here in our headquarters 94 00:08:55.301 --> 00:08:58.271 in honor of not only those who lost their lives, 95 00:08:58.971 --> 00:09:02.341 not only as a tribute to the resilience 96 00:09:02.675 --> 00:09:05.411 of our country, but also 97 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:08.915 as a gift that you have 98 00:09:08.915 --> 00:09:13.052 brought to this country and to the world through the work that you do. 99 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:15.688 You will make that tree grow. 100 00:09:15.688 --> 00:09:19.625 It is because of all of you that that seed is planted here. 101 00:09:20.326 --> 00:09:24.230 And I want to thank you very much for what you do every single day 102 00:09:24.564 --> 00:09:29.535 to honor the victims of 9/11, propel our country forward, 103 00:09:30.002 --> 00:09:35.975 and really ensure that its values and its principles are enduring and everlasting. 104 00:09:37.310 --> 00:09:40.813 I now have the honor of introducing 105 00:09:41.380 --> 00:09:45.351 someone who was stationed in New York on behalf of the Coast Guard, 106 00:09:46.185 --> 00:09:50.289 and because he was stationed there at the time of 9/11. 107 00:09:50.890 --> 00:09:56.095 He became the Coast Guard's commander of the rescue operations, 108 00:09:56.095 --> 00:10:00.466 evacuating individuals from the lower Manhattan area. 109 00:10:01.133 --> 00:10:04.904 He continues to dedicate his career to the well-being 110 00:10:04.904 --> 00:10:06.706 and prosperity of our country. 111 00:10:06.706 --> 00:10:11.611 And we are fortunate that he does so as a member of the United States Coast Guard 112 00:10:11.611 --> 00:10:15.081 and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Admiral Day. 113 00:10:15.414 --> 00:10:16.115 Thank you, Admiral. 114 00:10:24.590 --> 00:10:25.891 Morning, everyone. 115 00:10:25.891 --> 00:10:27.827 Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Secretary, 116 00:10:27.827 --> 00:10:31.497 distinguished guests, and most importantly, my fellow DHS colleagues. 117 00:10:32.098 --> 00:10:35.534 It's a distinct honor and privilege to be invited to share with you 118 00:10:35.534 --> 00:10:37.637 today a reflection of mine from 9/11. 119 00:10:38.738 --> 00:10:42.808 Three years before 9/11, in 1998, I participated in a one year exchange 120 00:10:42.808 --> 00:10:44.343 or detail program 121 00:10:44.343 --> 00:10:46.879 where I was assigned to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 122 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:48.547 for a training opportunity. 123 00:10:48.547 --> 00:10:51.817 My office was on the 34th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center, 124 00:10:52.351 --> 00:10:55.521 as was the offices of three of my friends who died from the 9/11 attacks. 125 00:10:57.023 --> 00:10:58.791 In 2001, I was a lieutenant stationed 126 00:10:58.791 --> 00:11:01.627 in New York City, and I was on the waterfront on 9/11. 127 00:11:02.361 --> 00:11:05.665 I saw and experienced firsthand from the deck of a ship in New York Harbor. 128 00:11:06.098 --> 00:11:08.300 The horrific day unfold in slow motion. 129 00:11:08.801 --> 00:11:12.738 I, like most of the world, watch helplessly as the towers collapsed 130 00:11:13.072 --> 00:11:15.941 and shortly thereafter, I too was engulfed in a heavy, acrid 131 00:11:15.941 --> 00:11:17.443 cloud of smoke and debris. 132 00:11:18.944 --> 00:11:21.681 One of the last commands given by the New York Police Department 133 00:11:21.681 --> 00:11:26.252 before Tower One collapsed was to issue an order to close all tunnels and bridges. 134 00:11:26.786 --> 00:11:30.089 This was done to prioritize the flow of emergency vehicles into the city, 135 00:11:30.523 --> 00:11:32.858 and it was standard operating procedure at the time. 136 00:11:33.793 --> 00:11:35.961 Tower One was also where the radio antennas were, 137 00:11:35.961 --> 00:11:39.498 so there was no means reversing the command after the towers collapsed. 138 00:11:40.266 --> 00:11:43.169 It also meant I had no way of communicating with higher authority. 139 00:11:44.070 --> 00:11:47.573 Radios were inoperative, as were all cell phone communications. 140 00:11:49.442 --> 00:11:51.977 Closed tunnels and bridges meant that thousands of New Yorkers 141 00:11:51.977 --> 00:11:55.748 were trapped on the lower tip of Manhattan with no way of getting off. 142 00:11:55.748 --> 00:11:59.585 Even if the bridges and tunnels were open, the suffocating cloud of smoke 143 00:11:59.585 --> 00:12:03.422 from the collapse made gaining a sense of direction close to impossible. 144 00:12:04.256 --> 00:12:08.861 You couldn't see your own hand at some point, never mind a path to escape. 145 00:12:08.861 --> 00:12:12.665 From the deck of the ship, it wasn't long before we noticed 146 00:12:12.665 --> 00:12:16.001 thousands of people have been forced into the battery section of lower Manhattan. 147 00:12:16.469 --> 00:12:18.971 The crowds getting denser and denser as people were trying 148 00:12:18.971 --> 00:12:21.941 to get away from Ground Zero and toxic clouds. 149 00:12:22.808 --> 00:12:25.811 Frantic New Yorkers were looking for a way to safety, any 150 00:12:25.911 --> 00:12:27.279 way off of lower Manhattan. 151 00:12:28.447 --> 00:12:29.882 Some bold souls jumped into 152 00:12:29.882 --> 00:12:32.918 the harbor and began swimming to Brooklyn or New Jersey. 153 00:12:32.918 --> 00:12:36.822 Recognizing the dire situation, I made a call on the ship radio 154 00:12:36.822 --> 00:12:38.290 to anyone listening. 155 00:12:38.290 --> 00:12:41.327 A call for help: "All available boats. 156 00:12:41.694 --> 00:12:43.796 This is the United States Coast Guard. 157 00:12:43.796 --> 00:12:47.867 Anyone want to help the evacuation, report to Governors Island." 158 00:12:47.867 --> 00:12:51.337 Governors Island's a former Coast Guard base off the tip of lower Manhattan. 159 00:12:52.972 --> 00:12:55.541 We proceeded to pick up some of the swimmers and people in the water. 160 00:12:56.108 --> 00:13:00.279 About 15 to 20 minutes later, we noticed literally hundreds 161 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:03.582 of boats of every description were converging on Governors Island; 162 00:13:04.183 --> 00:13:06.786 dinner cruisers, tugboats, ferries, you name it. 163 00:13:07.486 --> 00:13:10.356 If it floated, it was heading towards us, or so it seemed. 164 00:13:11.390 --> 00:13:13.459 My crew began assigning the responding vessels 165 00:13:13.459 --> 00:13:17.563 to different locations around Manhattan to pick up and transport the injured 166 00:13:17.630 --> 00:13:19.298 to ambulances waiting in New Jersey 167 00:13:19.298 --> 00:13:22.301 and Brooklyn, followed by removing the rest trying to escape. 168 00:13:23.803 --> 00:13:25.971 The crowds of people were shocked and frightened. 169 00:13:25.971 --> 00:13:29.341 You could see it in their eyes just how they stared off into the distance. 170 00:13:31.911 --> 00:13:34.980 We continue to work through the day, evacuating people off of Manhattan, 171 00:13:35.281 --> 00:13:38.617 never losing sight of where the towers had formerly stood. 172 00:13:39.552 --> 00:13:40.319 As a different boat. 173 00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:44.723 started embarking people, more people would show up at that location meaning 174 00:13:45.057 --> 00:13:47.693 we needed to send more boats to these embarkation points. 175 00:13:49.762 --> 00:13:51.597 9/11 was a dark day for our nation, 176 00:13:51.597 --> 00:13:54.500 but even the darkest of days, there is sometimes a light. 177 00:13:55.568 --> 00:13:58.370 At the end of the day, about nine hours later, 178 00:13:59.071 --> 00:14:02.842 over half a million people were evacuated from lower Manhattan by the volunteer 179 00:14:02.842 --> 00:14:06.879 armada of over 120 responding vessels with nothing in common 180 00:14:07.479 --> 00:14:09.648 except for the desire to help their fellow man. 181 00:14:11.350 --> 00:14:13.953 I feel grateful to be here with you to share the story today. 182 00:14:14.286 --> 00:14:17.189 In the context of my career as a Coast Guard officer 183 00:14:17.823 --> 00:14:21.360 I realized that, while I happen, by chance, to be there in New York Harbor 184 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:24.797 to help with what has been called the "Great Boatlift of 9/11", 185 00:14:25.297 --> 00:14:27.733 it would have transpired regardless of who was there. 186 00:14:28.467 --> 00:14:32.671 I benefited from the generations of Coast Guardsmen who served in the past. 187 00:14:32.771 --> 00:14:36.208 The reputation of the Coast Guard is one built on great deeds. 188 00:14:37.977 --> 00:14:40.779 I, like so many of you, believe public service is a calling 189 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:44.850 and that what each of you here do today in that realm contributes 190 00:14:44.850 --> 00:14:47.052 to our collective security and speaks volumes. 191 00:14:47.887 --> 00:14:51.257 Our spirit of the country that day in the days and months that followed 192 00:14:51.724 --> 00:14:55.127 demonstrated our resolve, commitment, and selfless service. 193 00:14:55.995 --> 00:14:59.565 It was in the waning hours of that day that we unified with a common goal 194 00:14:59.565 --> 00:15:01.200 of perseverance and hope 195 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.503 while we struggle to understand the tremendous loss we endured. 196 00:15:05.471 --> 00:15:08.607 I also believe we in DHS can look at the past eighteen years 197 00:15:08.974 --> 00:15:09.708 since the departments 198 00:15:09.708 --> 00:15:12.878 been established with a sense of pride and what has been accomplished. 199 00:15:13.412 --> 00:15:16.181 And we can look to the future with a great sense of optimism 200 00:15:16.181 --> 00:15:21.253 and what we can and must continue to achieve for those we lost that day. 201 00:15:23.255 --> 00:15:25.891 I've had the privilege to serve as a military adviser to the secretary 202 00:15:25.925 --> 00:15:29.228 for a few months now, and the equally rewarding experience of meeting 203 00:15:29.228 --> 00:15:32.498 so many more DHS colleagues than I had in the past 20 years. 204 00:15:32.831 --> 00:15:35.067 And I offer an observation 205 00:15:35.067 --> 00:15:37.002 just to those mariners' I spoke of headed 206 00:15:37.002 --> 00:15:40.873 into an uncertain situation to help others in need, so, too, 207 00:15:40.873 --> 00:15:45.744 do the employees of DHS on a daily basis, whether it be Hurricane Ida two weeks ago 208 00:15:45.744 --> 00:15:49.782 that struck New Orleans or our response on the southwest border, Operation Allies 209 00:15:49.782 --> 00:15:55.087 Welcome, or a host of other DHS responses, the dedication of DHS employees 210 00:15:55.087 --> 00:15:59.258 to the ideal of service is inspiring, and I'm proud to be part of that team. 211 00:16:00.459 --> 00:16:03.896 I asked you to take a moment to reflect on those impacted by 9/11. 212 00:16:03.963 --> 00:16:06.598 Those families who continue to mourn the loss of loved ones. 213 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:11.337 Service to our fellow Americans is at the heart of why we serve. 214 00:16:12.137 --> 00:16:13.906 It's part of our culture. 215 00:16:13.906 --> 00:16:14.940 It's who we are. 216 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.442 It's what we do. 217 00:16:17.309 --> 00:16:19.712 And for those of you interested in a more comprehensive account 218 00:16:19.712 --> 00:16:21.780 of the 9/11 boatlift, you can watch a short 219 00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:25.050 12 minute YouTube video narrated by Tom Hanks called "Boatlift". 220 00:16:25.584 --> 00:16:28.821 And while I fancy myself a good storyteller, it's tough to be Tom Hanks. 221 00:16:30.022 --> 00:16:32.858 So, Mr. Secretary, thank you again for this opportunity 222 00:16:32.858 --> 00:16:36.195 to join you in honoring and remembering those lost in this tragic day. 223 00:16:36.929 --> 00:16:41.300 If I could ask everyone to please join me over here for the the tree planting. 224 00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:44.336 Be much appreciate it. Thank you.