American Embassy London: September 11 Remembered: Ambassador Farish's Greeting to the Congregation at the American Church's Service of Remembrance and Hope

September 11 Remembered
Ambassador Farish's Greeting to the Congregation at the American Church's Service of Remembrance and Hope

Good evening.

This has been a long and emotional day for all of us.

And I am grateful to end it here with you.

September 11th happened shortly after Sarah and I arrived to take up my post as Ambassador.

But even if we'd been here for years, nothing could have prepared us -- or anyone else -- for the trauma and the challenges that lay ahead.

In those awful days that followed, I drew strength and inspiration from the support of our hosts, the people of the United Kingdom.

They are America's truest friends.

And we drew strength and inspiration from you, the American community here in Britain.

I was, and I am, very proud to be your standard-bearer.

You put aside your own shock and grief, and you came forward in the hundreds to offer every kind of help.

You were there for your fellow Americans in their hour of need.

And your example, and your spirit, helped me to be there too.

May that spirit continue to thrive in all of us, and in peace-loving people everywhere, as we go forth from this service of remembrance and hope to face the challenges that still lie ahead.

Thank you.