President Bush, on Sept. 11th, 2003 stated ""Two years ago, more than 3,000 innocent people lost their lives when a calm September morning was shattered by terrorists driven by hatred and destruction.
On that day, and in its aftermath, we saw the greatness of America in the bravery of victims; in the heroism of first responders who laid down their lives to save others; in the compassion of people who stepped forward to help those they had never met; and in the generosity of millions of Americans who enriched our country with acts of service and kindness. Since that day, we have seen the greatness of America further demonstrated in the courage of our brave men and women in uniform who have served and sacrificed in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and around the world to advance freedom and prevent terrorist attacks on America.
As we remember September 11, 2001, we reaffirm the vows made in the earliest hours of our grief and anger. As liberty's home and defender, America will not tire, will not falter, and will not fail in fighting for the safety and security of the American people and a world free from terrorism. We will continue to bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to them. This Patriot Day, we hold steady to this task.
By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as 'Patriot Day.'""
On this Patriots Day, the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, as we take time to remember the victims, I want to bring to your attention one specific victim, as part of the 2996 Tribute Project.
His name was Nathaniel Lawson. He was 61 years old, and was a food service handler for Forte Food Service, who had just recently been transferred to the World Trade Center. Not bad for someone from a little town in Georgia, who had 18 siblings. His niece, Brenda Weaver, in a touching vignette describes how excited her uncle was that his cable had finally just been installed, which would allow him to watch the Knicks play basketball. Sadly, that was not to be.
I never had the chance to meet Mr. Lawson, but from the kind words of remembrance of his relatives, he would have been a man I would have been proud to call my friend. Mr. Lawson, a man of God, is with God.
The obituary for Nathaniel Lawson reads, "Nathaniel Lawson, 61, of New York, NY, food service handler with Forte Food Service, died Sept. 11, 2001, a victim of the coordinated terrorist attacks against the United States in New York, Washington DC, and elsewhere."
Rest in Peace, Nathaniel. We will never forget you.
To read other tributes to other victims, be sure to check out this page.
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