As the nation prepares to commemorate the anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement:

“On this day, we pause to not only remember the lives of our fellow Americans lost to tragedy seventeen years ago, but also to honor the enduring legacy of the countless people, including the many brave first-responders, whose impact providing aid and comfort in the minutes, hours, days, and weeks after that horrific attack will never be forgotten.

“At one of our nation’s darkest hours we saw the best of who we are, with people from all walks of life joining together to do whatever was needed to help neighbors thousands of miles away in distress.

“It is that sense of country and shared pride — that no matter the challenge, we’re all in this together — that allowed us to move past that awful day, and fuels our hope that by working together, our nation’s future can be better than our past. As our country continues to grow and heal, may we never forget the lessons of compassion and community we took from that fateful day, and what the strength of the American spirit can achieve when we stand united.”