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>> My name is Jason Stern,
and I'm an Assistant Chief Counsel

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with the Department
of Homeland Security,

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ICE Office of the Principal
Legal Adviser

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right here
in San Antonio, Texas.

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But I'm originally
from Paramus, New Jersey,

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a small community about 30 minutes
outside of New York City.

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I remember the events
of September 11th, 2001 vividly.

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I was a ninth grade student,
just starting out my high school career.

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And on the morning
of September 11, 2001,

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I was in gym class.

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I remember our gym teacher
telling me and my classmates

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that planes had just struck
the Twin Towers in New York City.

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It was inconceivable
that something like this

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could have happened
and so close to our school.

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My classmates and I,
we ran to the window

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to see the skyline
of New York City,

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and we saw the billowing
clouds of smoke.

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In the minutes and days
and weeks that followed.

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There was immense sadness
and immense tragedy.

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So many of my classmates
lost loved ones.

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There were people lost
in our community,

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but then thereafter, I witnessed
something extraordinary happening.

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I also began to witness
people coming together,

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helping one another,
consoling one another,

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helping to build a stronger,
safer, better community.

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I heard and I saw stories
of frontline responders,

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the police force, firefighters
and all sorts of other public servants

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and their stories.

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And what I heard
and saw was so impactful

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and taught me a lot about who I am,
my community and my country.

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And so that's why today
I'm very proud to serve our country

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as a member of the Department
of Homeland Security.

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I strongly identify
with the mission of DHS

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that with honor and integrity,
DHS will safeguard American,

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the American homeland,
people and values.

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I try to think about
this mission daily in my work

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as I interact
with members of the public,

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as I interact with my colleagues,
as I do daily projects and assignments.

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And I try express I can to exude
the same sort of professionalism,

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honor and spirit of generosity

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that I witnessed first line responders
and public servants pay.

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On September 11th, 2001,
not only for our country in the present,

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but for our country
going forward into the future.