Bob Goodlatte. Photo by Sam Dean, The Roanoke Times.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, issues the following statement on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks:

“Today marks the 11th anniversary of the horrific September 11th attacks on our nation. It started out as a typical Tuesday morning, much like today, but within just a few hours life for all Americans was forever changed.

Nearly 3,000 innocent lives were brutally taken in a moment of flagrant injustice and mass destruction that day. They were mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, friends and neighbors but above all they were heroes.

We as a nation continue to pray for everyone who lost a friend or loved one that day. We grieve with you and we pray that time has helped to ease your pain. We also remember and honor the brave men and women of our armed forces, police, fire and rescue personnel, who showed such incredible strength on that infamous day and who since then have worked tirelessly to protect our country and our citizens.

On this somber anniversary, I call on every American to remember the raw emotion of that day but also the way in which our country united and found strength. That is the real legacy of September 11th and that is why we honor the heroes of 9-11 through a national day of service. Nothing is a more fitting tribute to those lost that day than neighbor helping neighbor strengthen our communities.”