Puckett Remembers September 11th, 2001

Speaking to a crowd of voters at a candidate forum in Plymouth last night, Congressional candidate Luke Puckett substituted a brief address remembering the events of 9/11/01 for his normal stump speech. The text of his remarks can be found below.

“Good evening, my name is Luke Puckett and I am running for Congress. I am a husband, father of three, and small business owner and employer from Elkhart. I am running for Congress because I believe that it’s time for some common sense solutions in Washington. From the slowing economy to high energy prices, Washington has failed to put in place policies that will help the hardworking people of Indiana.

“Tonight, I want to deviate a little from my normal campaign speech. Instead of talking about Washington’s lack of leadership and lack of response to our problems, I want to talk about a day in which we saw leadership and in which we saw a courageous response to pressing needs.

“Since the fall of the Soviet Union we pondered how we would meet the global challenges of the new era. We were lulled into a false sense of security and we wondered if we would ever again face monumental threats to our existence and our ideas. But liberty has always had its foes and history handed us our moment to stand on a late summer day 7 years ago.

“On September 11th, 2001 when we saw hate in action in the form of a terrible attack that ranged from the World Trade Center in New York City to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. to a cornfield in Pennsylvania. Those who perpetrated this evil act were motivated by a venomous ideology of bondage and totalitarianism. Their motives were evil and their actions were cowardly.

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“These terrorists sought to inflict a blow that would destroy the American spirit and our commitment to liberty and human freedom. The world soon learned, however, that although you can attack our nation and level our buildings, you cannot weaken the strength of our resolve to stand for what is right, and just, and true, and honorable.

“Amidst the carnage and horror of that day we saw actions of love, and patriotism and valor emerge. From the courageous New York City Firefighters who unswervingly held to their duty and put others lives before their own as they worked to rescue as many people as possible from the flames of the World Trade Center to the patriotic citizens of United Flight 93 who voluntarily responded to the call of their country and laid down their own lives so that others might be spared, the American spirit showed that it was strong under fire.

“The flames of that day did not melt American resolve, it only tempered our fierce desire to stand and uphold the values and traditions of freedom. As we look forward to the challenges our nation faces, let us commit to emulating the courage and heroism that was manifest on September 11th, 2001. Let us find inspiration in the actions of these patriots and let us dedicate ourselves doing our part to keep America strong and great and free.

“Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.”