特朗普总统在93号航班9·11悼念活动上的讲话
本文译自白宫官网(9月11日)。
英文标题:Remarks by President Trump at Flight 93 September 11 Memorial Service。
背景介绍:联合航空93号班机,是一班从新泽西州的纽瓦克国际机场(现在已改名为纽瓦克自由国际机场)飞往旧金山国际机场的联合航空定期航班。2001年9月11日,该航班的一架登记编号N591UA的波音757-200客机,成为911恐怖袭击事件里遭到劫机的四架飞机之一。与事件中另外三架飞机的结局不同的是,联航93号班机并没有抵达原先恐怖份子预定的撞击目标——华盛顿哥伦比亚特区,而是坠毁在接近宾夕法尼亚州索美塞特县尚克斯维尔(Shanksville)的附近的一处无人田地。依据事后官方调查委员会公布的911调查报告,联航93号班机上的乘客和空服员们在遭劫机后透过电话向他们的亲人联络,最后决定采取行动击退劫机者并夺回飞机。调查报告总结指出,乘客们的反击行动最终迫使劫机者们将飞机朝地坠毁,而没有抵达原先的目标。本次的悼念仪式,正是在93号航班的坠机地点举行。详见维基百科的“联合航空93号班机恐怖袭击”的词条,亦可参见纪实电影《93号航班》。
总统:非常感谢。谢谢你,瑞恩。这里是如此漂亮。
我们在这个神圣的地方集会,为的是纪念17年前在今天遇害的近3000名灵魂。我们向93号航班上的40名乘客和机组成员献上隆重的悼念,他们奋起反抗敌人,主宰了自己的命运,并改变了历史的进程。
今天,我们悼念他们的离去。我们传颂他们的故事。我们纪念他们不可思议的勇气。
2001年9月11日,一群英勇的爱国者力挽狂澜、挫败敌人的企图,成为不朽的美国英雄。
在这个纪念仪式上,在这片神圣的土地上,在墙外的田野上,在我们头顶的天空上,我们都记得美国反击的那一刻。
汤姆·沃尔夫州长(注释:宾州现州长)、马克·史威克州长(注释:宾州前州长),梅拉尼娅和我非常感谢你们出席今天的悼念仪式。我还要感谢今天到场的国会议员:参议员鲍勃·凯西、众议员卢·巴勒塔、基思·罗斯福斯、比尔·舒斯特以及93号航班家属团的主席戈登·费尔特。
今天和我们同在的还有:国家公园管理局的工作人员、消防员、现场急救员以及来自执法一线的人员。他们是真正的伟人。(掌声)17年前,今天在座的一些人响应号召、奔赴救援现场。我们为你们感到自豪,我代表我们国家感谢你们。非常感谢。(掌声)
最重要的是,对93号航班的家属而言:今天,全体美国人民团结一心。我们愿意和你们同苦同悲。请不要独自流泪,这是我们整个国家的伤悲。让我们一起悼念那些在双子塔、五角大楼和这片宾夕法尼亚田野遇害的父亲母亲、兄弟姊妹、儿子女儿。他们在邪恶面前毫不退缩,不惜一切代价维护美国的安全,让我们为他们的牺牲献上最深的敬意。(掌声)
17年前,你们的亲人就在93号航班上,这40位乘客和机组成员在上午8时登机。93号航班从纽瓦克飞往旧金山。这些乘客来自不同的背景。他们是探亲归来的年轻人,出差的父母,忙着参加或离开生日聚会或婚礼的朋友。
他们以陌生人的身份登上飞机,后来,他们以英雄的身份进入永恒。(掌声)
起飞后不久,93号航班就被歹徒劫持,这些人一心从事恐怖行径和征服。乘客和机组成员开始用手机联系家人。他们获悉已经有两架飞机撞上纽约市的世贸中心大楼。
93号航班上的乘客立即着手策划回应。空乘人员桑迪·布拉德肖给她的丈夫打电话,告诉他他们准备把热水泼到劫机者身上。乘客杰里米·格利克向他的妻子解释了这个计划,并说:”不要挂电话,我马上回来。”
乘客和机组成员聚在一起,投票表决,决定采取行动。那一刻,他们重新掌握了自己的命运——以及美国的命运。
在最后的20分钟,许多人给家人打了最后一个电话,低声念着永恒的三个字:”我爱你。”有人念了主祷文。之后,他们勇敢地冲向驾驶舱。他们同敌人搏斗,并战斗到最后一刻。他们阻止了恐怖势力,挫败了那个邪恶的、可怕的计划。
93号航班就在我们不远处坠毁,距离美国国会大厦只有20分钟的飞行时间。
40位勇士用自己的生命拯救了无数的美国人,他们使我们的首都免于一场毁灭性的袭击。
在袭击发生后的数天时间里,数以万计的消防员、警察和救援人员前往纽约和阿灵顿,在废墟中爬行,为的是搜救幸存者。
全国各地都有祈祷守夜、追悼会和慈善活动。
在尚克斯维尔,你们中的一些人树起了第一座纪念碑——一个木制的十字架,一个铁链连起来的围栏。纪念品和吊唁纷至沓来,还有数不清的美国国旗。
一些美国的心灵埋葬于此,此时此刻,我们下定决心要像93号航班上的英雄一样,活出生命的风采和勇气。
这片土地现在成为美国人反抗的纪念碑。这个纪念碑向全世界传递了一个信号:美国永远不会屈从于暴政。(掌声)
自”911事件”以来,已经有近550万美国青年参军。近7000名军人在迎战极端伊斯兰恐怖主义时牺牲。
此时,我们想到了目前在海外服役的20多万军人。我们想到每一位在国内保护我们国家的公民,包括我们的州、地方和联邦的执法机构。他们是伟大的美国人。他们是伟大的英雄。我们向他们表示敬意和感谢。(掌声)
作为总司令,我将尽我所能阻止恐怖分子袭击美国领土。
今天和我们一道出席悼念仪式的的还有多萝西·加西亚·巴克勒。她的丈夫桑尼是93号航班上的乘客。2001年9月11日——就在他们结婚32周年纪念日的一个多月——桑尼正在出差归来的路上。他给多萝西打了电话——他非常爱她——在飞机上给她打电话,并且在电话无人应答之前就喊出她的名字。
袭击发生后的几天里,多萝西告诉调查人员,她只想从这片土地上得到一样东西:她丈夫的结婚戒指。根据内嵌的铭文,他们可以辨别出来,上面写的是”我全部的爱”(all my love),后边是日期”8/2/69″——他们的结婚纪念日。军官们——伟大的人民——答应试一试。但在这一片废墟中,这无异于大海捞针。
多萝茜开始祈祷,并请求自己的朋友们也这样做。日复一日,月复一月。仍然没有戒指的消息。12月19日,在圣诞节的前一周,她听到有人敲门。两个军官站在门外,手里拿着一个精美的白色小盒子,她猜到了结局。盒子里有一个钱包、一个行李牌、一张驾照、一个小提包,里面的结婚戒指上铭刻着”我全部的爱”(all my love)。
这几个字在这片田野里回荡。它们讲述了40个男人和女人的故事,他们为他们的家庭、国家和我们的自由献出了全部的爱。
多萝西、今天在这里的每一个家庭,美国永远不会忘记你们的亲人为我们所做的一切。(掌声)
本周早些时候,你们把纪念碑的最后一部分——”声音塔”(the Tower of Voices)——变成美国的一个神圣之所。”声音塔”高93英尺,是游客们造访这片神圣土地时看到的第一栋建筑。它将容纳40个美丽的风铃,它们在这片大地上回响——每一个都构成独特的音符,但整体上完美和谐。
每当我们听到风铃声,我们就会想起这40位英雄。我们将记住他们的面孔、他们的声音、他们的故事、他们的勇气和他们的爱。
我们将牢记,自由的人民永远不会受邪恶的摆布,因为我们的命运总是掌握在我们自己手中。(掌声)美国的未来不是由我们的敌人写就的。美国的未来是由我们的英雄写就的。(掌声)
只要这座纪念碑还耸立于此,英勇的爱国者就会在美国需要的时刻挺身而出,而且,他们会发起反击。(掌声)
17年前,40个不可思议的男人和女人向全世界表明,地球上没有任何力量能征服美国精神。他们的英勇行为,我们永志不忘。他们的宝贵遗产,我们永远珍惜。我们祈求上帝永远保佑93号航班上不朽的英雄。
谢谢大家。愿上帝保佑你们。愿上帝保佑这些家庭。愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。非常感谢。(掌声)
Trump at Flight 93 September 11 Memorial
Service Flight 93 National Memorial
Shanksville, Pennsylvania
10:41 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Ryan. So beautiful.
We’re gathered together on these hallowed grounds to honor the memory of nearly 3,000 souls who were murdered on this day 17 years ago. We’re here to pay solemn tribute to the 40 passengers and crewmembers on Flight 93 who rose up, defied the enemy, took control of their destiny, and changed the course of history.
Today, we mourn their loss. We share their story. And we commemorate their incredible valor.
On September 11th, 2001, a band of brave patriots turned the tide on our nation’s enemies, and joined the immortal ranks of American heroes.
At this memorial, on this sacred earth, in the field beyond this wall, and in the skies above our heads, we remember the moment when America fought back.
Melania and I are grateful to be joined for today’s ceremony by Governor Tom Wolf and Governor Mark Schweiker. I also want to thank the members of Congress in attendance: Senator Bob Casey, Congressmen Lou Barletta, Keith Rothfus, Bill Shuster, and along with the president of the Families of Flight 93, Gordon Felt.
We’re also joined by members of the National Park Service, along with firefighters, first responders, and incredible people from law enforcement. These are truly great people. (Applause.) Some of you here today answered the call and raced to this field 17 years ago. You fill our hearts with pride, and I want to thank you on behalf of our country. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Most importantly, to the family members of Flight 93: Today, all of America wraps up and joins together. We close our arms to help you shoulder your pain and to carry your great, great sorrow. Your tears are not shed alone, for they are shared grief with an entire nation. We grieve together for every mother and father, sister and brother, son and daughter, who was stolen from us at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and here in this Pennsylvania field. We honor their sacrifice by pledging to never flinch in the face of evil, and to do whatever it takes to keep America safe. (Applause.)
Seventeen years ago, your loved ones were among The Forty of Flight 93 — the 40 passengers and crewmembers onboard the 8:00 a.m. United Airlines flight from Newark to San Francisco. They were men and women from every background. They were young people returning from visiting family, moms and dads on business trips, and friends going and coming from birthdays and weddings.
They boarded the plane as strangers — and they entered eternity linked forever as true heroes. (Applause.)
Soon after takeoff, Flight 93 was hijacked by evil men bent on terror and conquest. Passengers and crewmembers began using their phones to call home. They learned that two planes had already crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.
Immediately, those onboard Flight 93 started planning a response. Sandy Bradshaw, a flight attendant, called her husband and told him they were in the back of the plane preparing hot water to throw onto the hijackers. Passenger Jeremy Glick explained the plan to his wife and said, “Stay on the line. I’ll be back.”
The passengers and crew members came together, took a vote, and they decided to act. At that moment, they took their fate — and America’s fate –- back into their own hands.
In the last 20 minutes, many placed their final calls home, whispering those eternal words: “I love you.” Some said the Lord’s Prayer. And then they bravely charged the cockpit. They attacked the enemy. They fought until the very end. And they stopped the forces of terror and defeated this wicked, horrible, evil plan.
Flight 93 crashed yards from where we stand, just 20 minutes flying time from the United States Capitol.
Through their sacrifice, The Forty saved the lives of countless Americans, and they saved our capital from a devastating strike.
In the days after the attack, tens of thousands of fire fighters, police officers, and recovery workers traveled to New York and Arlington to crawl through the rubble in search for survivors.
There were prayer vigils, memorials, and charity drives all across our nation.
Here in Shanksville, many of you raised up the first memorial –- a wooden cross, a chain-linked fence, mementos and tributes pouring in, and dozens and dozens of American flags.
A piece of America’s heart is buried on these grounds but in its place has grown a new resolve to live our lives with the same grace and courage as the heroes of Flight 93.
This field is now a monument to American defiance. This memorial is now a message to the world: America will never, ever submit to tyranny. (Applause.)
Since September 11th, nearly 5.5 million young Americans have enlisted in the United States Armed Forces. Nearly 7,000 service members have died facing down the menace of radical Islamic terrorism. (Applause.)
Today, we also think of the more than 200,000 service members now serving overseas. And we think of every citizen who protects our nation at home, including our state, local, and federal law enforcement. These are great Americans. These are great heroes. We honor and thank them all. (Applause.)
As Commander-in-Chief, I will always do everything in my power to prevent terrorists from striking American soil.
Here with us today is Dorothy Garcia Bachler. Her husband Sonny was one of the passengers on Flight 93. On September 11th, 2001 — just over a month after their 32nd wedding anniversary — Sonny was on his way back from a business meeting. He called Dorothy — who he loved so much — called her on the plane and uttered her name before the line went dead silent.
In the days after the attack, Dorothy told the investigators there was only one thing she wanted from this field: her husband’s wedding ring. They would know it by the inscription etched inside. “All my love,” it said, followed by the number “8/2/69” –- the date of their anniversary. The officers — great people — promised to try. But in this field of wreckage, it seemed certainly impossible.
Dorothy began to pray, and she asked her friends to do the same. Days went by, then months. Still no ring. A week before Christmas, on December 19th, she heard a knock at the door. Two officers were standing with a — really beautiful to her — she saw it was so beautiful; she knew what was happening — a beautiful, small white box. Inside it was a wallet, a luggage tag, a driver’s license, a small bag with the wedding ring inscribed with those three precious words: “All my love.”
Those words echo across this field. And those words tell the story of 40 men and women who gave all their love for their families, their country, and our freedom.
To Dorothy, and to every family here today, America will never forget what your loved ones did for all of us. (Applause.)
Earlier this week, you dedicated the final part of this memorial: the Tower of Voices. Standing at 93 feet tall, the Tower of Voices is now the first structure visitors see when they come to this now sacred ground. It will hold 40 beautiful chimes that ring throughout these fields — each a unique note, but all in perfect harmony.
Every time we hear those chimes playing in the wind, we will remember The Forty. We will remember their faces, their voices, their stories, their courage, and their love.
And we will remember that free people are never at the mercy of evil because our destiny is always in our hands. (Applause.) America’s future is not written by our enemies. America’s future is written by our heroes. (Applause.)
As long as this monument stands, as long as this memorial endures, brave patriots will rise up in America’s hours of need, and they too will fight back. (Applause.)
Seventeen years ago, forty incredible men and women showed the whole world that no force on Earth will ever conquer the American spirit. We treasure their memory. We cherish their legacy. And we ask God to forever bless the immortal heroes of Flight 93.
Thank you. God bless you. God bless the families. And God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END
10:56 A.M. EDT