President Donald Trump said Monday that America can honor the lives lost in the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history on Sept. 11, 2001, by resolving to keep its people safe.
Speaking at the Pentagon in Washington, where 184 people were killed when terrorists crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the building, Trump told the families of the victims that the nation grieved with them.
"Each family here today represents a son or daughter, a sister or brother, a mother or father who was taken from you on that terrible, terrible day," he said. "But no force on Earth can ever take away your memories, diminish your love, or break your will to endure and carry on and go forward. Though we can never erase your pain or bring back those you lost, we can honor their sacrifice by pledging our resolve to do whatever we must to keep our people safe."
Trump said the sorrow felt over the lives lost that day had been turned into "an unstoppable resolve to achieve justice in their name."
"The terrorists who attacked us thought they could incite fear and weaken our spirit, but America cannot be intimidated, and those who try will soon join the long list of vanquished enemies who dared to test our mettle," he said.
Trump said the attackers had tried to break American resolve but had failed.
"America does not bend," Trump said. "We do not waver and we will never, ever yield. So here at this memorial, with hearts both sad and determined, we honor every hero who keeps us safe and free, and we pledge to work together, to fight together, and to overcome together every enemy and obstacle that's ever in our path."