Collins and Baldacci Attend Memorial at Pentagon
By Dana Razzano
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Congressman John Baldacci (D-2nd) attended an emotional and patriotic memorial service led by President Bush at the Pentagon on Thursday. The service was held in remembrance of the victims of the terrorist attacks one month ago.
“It reinforced the indomitable spirit that we all have,” Baldacci said of the memorial service. “Even though we come from many different parts of the country, we stood as one.”
For Collins, the ceremony “stirring and moving,” she said. “I think it helped the families deal with their overwhelming sense of loss and grief.” It helped rally us as a country.”
Collins added that “the President and the Defense Secretary gave outstanding speeches. They offered comfort to the grieving families and helped strengthened the resolve of all the people.”
The service drew thousands, including family members of victims, former President Bill Clinton and military personnel. In the sea of faces present, Collins said, she found particularly moving the “sight of a young mother, who was clearly one of the relatives that lost a family member, holding her baby. Seeing her swaying in time to ‘America the Beautiful,’ holding her baby, was such a poignant sight.”
Collins got the chance to speak with a couple from Nobleboro, Maine, who lost their daughter, Angela Houtz, in the Pentagon attack. The couple was at the memorial to honor their daughter, who, Collins said, she believed was a civilian employee.
“My conversation with the Houtzes suggests that [the memorial] helps them come to terms with the terrible loss of their daughter,” Collins said. “They were so grateful for the President, for everyone, sharing in their grief.”
Baldacci also shared in the grief of family members. Baldacci said he felt “fortunate to talk to a few family members” of victims. It gave him the opportunity, he said, to tell a young man “that we appreciate what his family member has done for our country.”
“Others from the military were thanking us for attending [the memorial],” Baldacci said, “but I said, ‘Thank you for your sacrifice and for your family’s sacrifice’.”
Baldacci said he found the speech by Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne of the Pentagon Family Assistance Center to be “especially moving.” Alstyne’s speech was on behalf of the family members who asked only “that their loved ones be remembered in the service of their country.”
Baldacci said he felt it was important to remember that “while there are military heroes overseas, there are military heroes at home.”
The ceremony was a combination of song, prayer and words of remembrance for the 189 victims of the attack on the Pentagon. The military band and chorus performed patriotic songs that Sen. Collins found “stirring.”
“[The music] helped bring out a sense of pride in all of us and reminded us of what a great country we have,” she said. “To lift our voices and sing patriotic songs reminds us of our pride and faith in our country. It gives a sense of patriotism and a diminished sense of sorrow.”
Baldacci found that hearing the songs at the memorial service seemed to “have a lot more emotion and a lot more feeling.”
The prayers recited at the memorial service were of particular significance to Collins, who said, “It was important and appropriate that the tribute included chaplains representing all faiths.” Specifically, Collins referred to the prayer of Army Chaplain Capt. Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, representing the Muslim religion, who recited a passage from the Koran.
“The terrorists are trying to make this a religious war and it is not,” Collins said.
On the one-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, Collins reflected on the status of the nation.
“I’ve never been prouder of my country than in the month since the attack,” she said. “I am so impressed with the strength, resolve and patriotism. I’ve traveled all of the state of Maine, and people have been flying flags, making donations of blood and money. [The attacks] have united us into one people.”
“It was a very special moment. It was something that I’ll never forget,” Baldacci said.
