Remarks by Azul Lerma, student. Full remarks can be found here
September 11, 2001 America met heartbreak and shock. 9/11 marked the day when thousands upon thousands of Americans cried for our country. 9/11 marks the day that from the ashes, brave heroes emerged.
My father came to the U.S. 45 years ago, he was here in the United States when 9/11 happened. That day, he was among those many Americans crying for our country, he was one of those Americans who felt the pain of what had happened. He cried for the families that lost loved ones.
9/11 marked the dawning of a new era, it was the day when dark times came and heroes stepped forward to lend a helping hand but it was also the day where many people turned that hurt into hate, and that hate into a weapon