Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Statement in Remembrance of September 11th

The following is the statement of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in remembrance of the lives lost in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001:

“Like many Americans, the sights, sounds, and feelings I experienced on September 11 are indelibly etched in my memory. I’ll always remember where I was when I heard the news of the horrific acts of terrorism that would change our nation forever.

“Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the survivors and surviving family members, the first responders and other heroes who responded on that fateful Tuesday. We also remember the strength and resilience Americans showed when we came together in a time of tragedy. Ultimately, the fear that gripped us on that day did not win, and it was the optimistic spirit of the American people that moved us forward.

“19 years later, we find ourselves trying to move forward in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis we face today is a reminder that keeping our residents healthy is an integral part of public safety and I’m proud of the work Milwaukee County has done to respond the pandemic and keep our residents safe. Earlier this year, we created a unified emergency operations center to respond to the public health crisis and serve as the cooperative body amongst the 19 separate municipalities in the county. Our Office of Emergency Management was designed to lead in this way, turning four separate, siloed divisions of county government into one, centralized department – paving the way for the mission-critical coordinated radio and 9-1-1 response systems we rely on today.

“Even with all we’ve done to prepare for and respond to the pandemic, the lessons of September 11th show us that unity is one of the strongest weapons in our arsenal. We will never forget the lives lost on that day, and in these unprecedented times we remember how our nation came together in the wake of tragedy to re-build what was destroyed. Drawing on that strength and resolve is how we will beat fear once again and build our county back better than it was before.”