resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
WHEREAS, September 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, a day that forever changed the history of our Nation and the lives of millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS, on the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger aircraft and carried out coordinated attacks against the United States, striking the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, while the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 courageously resisted the hijackers before the aircraft crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, 2,977 people were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, including passengers and crew members aboard the four aircraft, employees and visitors at the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and the firefighters, law-enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, and other first responders who answered the call of duty and ran toward danger to save others; and
WHEREAS, the victims came from different backgrounds, communities, professions, nationalities, faiths, and walks of life, reminding us that terrorism affects not one group or one community, but all people who value freedom, peace, and human life; and
WHEREAS, in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, Americans witnessed extraordinary acts of courage, compassion, sacrifice, generosity, and service as first responders, medical professionals, military personnel, volunteers, construction workers, clergy, charitable organizations, and ordinary citizens worked together to rescue survivors, recover victims, care for the injured, and comfort grieving families; and
WHEREAS, the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 demonstrated extraordinary courage by confronting the terrorists and attempting to prevent the aircraft from reaching its intended target, giving their lives in an act of extraordinary bravery and selflessness; and
WHEREAS, the attacks of September 11 initiated years of sacrifice by members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans, intelligence personnel, diplomats, first responders, and their families, many of whom continued to serve our Nation in the years that followed; and
WHEREAS, the effects of September 11 did not end on that day, as survivors, first responders, recovery workers, military personnel, veterans, and others have continued to experience physical and other consequences related to the attacks and their aftermath; and
WHEREAS, the 25th anniversary provides a solemn opportunity to remember those who were lost, honor those who responded, recognize the sacrifices of their families, and ensure that future generations understand the significance of September 11, 2001; and
WHEREAS, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum has emphasized that approximately 100 million Americans alive today are too young to have a lived memory of September 11, making education and remembrance increasingly important as a new generation inherits the responsibility to preserve the history and lessons of that day; and
WHEREAS, 25 years later, the Nation continues to draw strength from the courage, compassion, unity, resilience, and spirit of service demonstrated by Americans in response to the attacks; and
WHEREAS, the County of Genesee recognizes that remembrance is not merely an exercise in looking backward, but an affirmation of the values that unite Americans: courage in the face of adversity, service to others, compassion for our neighbors, devotion to family, and an enduring commitment to the freedoms and democratic principles of the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, the Genesee County Board of Commissioners believes that the passage of time must never diminish our obligation to remember the victims of September 11, honor those who served, and recognize the sacrifices made by their families and communities; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Genesee County Board of Commissioners hereby solemnly commemorates September 11, 2026, as the 25th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board honors the memory of every person who lost their life on September 11, 2001, and extends its deepest respect to their families and loved ones; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County of Genesee expresses its profound gratitude to the firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, military personnel, health-care professionals, volunteers, recovery workers, and countless citizens who demonstrated extraordinary courage and service in response to the attacks; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County of Genesee recognizes the continuing sacrifices of survivors, first responders, recovery workers, veterans, military families, and all those whose lives were forever changed by September 11; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Genesee County Board of Commissioners encourages all residents to observe this 25th anniversary with appropriate acts of remembrance, reflection, service, unity, and respect, and to uphold the solemn promise that the victims of September 11, 2001, will never be forgotten.