REMARKS ABOARD USS INTREPID ON SEPTEMBER 11

IT IS FITTING THAT WE OBSERVE THE EVENTS OF A YEAR AGO FROM THIS PARTICULAR VANTAGE POINT. DURING THE PAST 365 DAYS, WE HAVE ALL BEEN SEVERELY TESTED. YET WE HAVE NOT WAVERED, JUST AS THIS SHIP LIVED UP TO ITS NAME DESPITE EVERYTHING THE ENEMY COULD MUSTER.

THE USS INTREPID HAS SERVED AS A SYMBOL OF AMERICA’S STRENGTH AND RESOLVE SINCE 1943, FIRST ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR 31 YEARS, THEN AS THE FLOATING MUSEUM YOU SEE HERE TODAY. DURING WORLD WAR II, THE INTREPID SUFFERED SEVEN BOMB ATTACKS, FIVE KAMIKAZE STRIKES AND ONE TORPEDO HIT. YET THE SHIP SURVIVED, WAS LATER MODERNIZED TO ACCOMMODATE JET AIRCRAFT, AND SERVED AS THE PRIMARY RECOVERY VESSEL FOR NASA DURING THE MERCURY AND GEMINI PROGRAMS. IN A VERY REAL SENSE, A BATTLE-TESTED INTREPID HELPED AMERICA REACH FOR THE STARS.

WITHOUT QUESTION, THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF LAST SEPTEMBER 11 STUNNED OUR NATION, OUR AIRLINE AND OUR PILOT GROUP. FRIENDS AND RESPECTED COLLEAGUES DIED IN THE ATTACKS, WHILE AMERICA ACQUIRED A NEWFOUND SENSE OF ITS OWN VULNERABILITY.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PASSAGE OF TIME WILL EVER ALLEVIATE THE PROFOUND SENSE OF LOSS THAT WE ALL FEEL. WE WILL FOREVER MISS CAPTAINS JOHN OGONOWSKI AND CHIC BURLINGAME, FIRST OFFICERS TOM MCGUINNESS AND DAVID CHARLEBOIS, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WHO PERISHED ABOARD FLIGHTS 11 AND 77, AND THE MANY, MANY OTHERS WE LOST THAT DAY.

PERHAPS THE BEST WAY WE CAN HONOR AND REMEMBER OUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES IS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THEM PROUD. THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS PILOT GROUP ACCOMPLISHED IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11. AT A TIME WHEN EVEN OUR NATION’S UNPARALLELED MILITARY MIGHT COULD NOT GUARANTEE YOUR SECURITY, YOU CLIMBED BACK INTO YOUR COCKPITS AND DID WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE WITH CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALISM. IT WAS YOUR OWN INTREPID CONDUCT THAT SAVED AMERICAN AIRLINES AND HELPED TO PRESERVE AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY AND WAY OF LIFE.

IT IS THAT INSPIRATIONAL PROFILE IN COURAGE AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS WE HAVE WITNESSED DURING THE PAST YEAR THAT GIVE ME HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.