Ambassador's Remarks at the Pirita Convent Concert on September 11, 2002

Mr. Prime Minister, Ministers of the Republic of Estonia, President Meri, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Leiten, friends from the diplomatic community, my fellow Americans and -- above all -- our friends in Estonia.

We come together this evening to remember many things. First, we must recall the acts of evil that struck us such a painful blow in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

The images of last year's attack will be shown to us tonight in our print and electronic media. Therefore, you do not need my words to recall the horror we felt one year ago.

Second, we are here to recognize heroism. We salute those passengers of United Airlines flight number 93 who chose to fight rather than allow their hijacked aircraft to be used as another terrorist murder weapon.

We stand in silent awe before the sacrifice of members of the New York City police and fire departments and at the actions of many everyday people from many nations who sought to aid the victims of September 11. We also remember tonight the men and women in Afghanistan -- Estonian, American, and those of twenty other nations. They have taken us many steps forward on the long road to eliminate sanctuary for terrorists as well as to free the people of Afghanistan from a medieval and barbaric tyranny.

Third, we remember and we repeat here with this ceremony tonight the solidarity of all free people in the face of this evil. We are here tonight as guests of the Estonian government and we are grateful for its actions tonight and throughout this conflict. The American people will never forget that our allies in Europe immediately stepped forward to say the attacks on September 11 were an attack on us all.

My friends. It is not possible in the life of men and women or in the life of nations to banish all evil. We as individuals and as a civilization are not defined by such an impossible standard. We are judged by how we endure and face up to evil when it occurs. We stand here tonight together as free people bound together in values, history, in shared loss and in common resolve to combat terror.

In this beautiful site, we come to create light and music in reply to darkness and hatred. I can think of no more fitting and beautiful way to remember those lost or to answer the challenge of those who attacked us.

I thank the Estonian Government and Eesti Kontsert for organizing this event; Mr. Leiten and his orchestra and Mr. Sibul for what promises to be a beautiful performance. And I want to thank you, my friends, for your attention.