Memorial created on Sept. 11, 2013 to commemorate 9/11/2001

"As today marks the 12 year anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in American history, I would like to take a moment to recognize the brave men and women who heroically lost their lives on that tragic day.

From the firefighters who raced up countless flights of smoldering stairs, knowing that the destination they sought may or not be death, to the police who maintained order amidst the confusion and pandemonium of those who watched their loved ones trapped far above, not knowing if they had said the right last words. To the medical professionals who worked tirelessly throughout the following days and nights, treating everyone from burn victims, to testing molars for DNA samples to bring closure to a grieving family.

To the rescue workers, who persisted for the months that followed in attempting to find remains in the rubble, to the dogs who went lame walking on melted steel and atop slowly dying embers to find the body of someone who was loved.

To the man who knew that he and his compatriots were about to perish, but sang songs to keep them calm, or called his wife and told her he loved her one more time, or the mother who left a final message for her daughter, with tears in her eyes, but a song in your heart.

It doesn't matter your race, religion, nationality or...in our case, species. At the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93, humanity suffered a blow. Our brothers and sisters in humanity perished, their families suffered the same way ours would have were we in their shoes, and regular people, in a terrible circumstance, proved themselves to be heroes.

In that aspect, it would be fair to say that they are all survivors."