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Spirit of America: John Warner Talking About Medal of Valor for Public Safety Officers to be Issued Soon

Aired October 4, 2001 - 10:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We want take you to Washington now, Senator John Warner talking about the medal of valor for public safety officers to be issued soon.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), VIRGINIA: So it's with the deepest sense of humility that we gather here this morning to introduce this piece of legislation, which reflects what nations have done from the very inception of mankind: singled out artifacts to recognize heroism above and beyond the call of duty.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families. But this small, but most significant item will be cherished, as Senator Harkin said, by future generations.

Just over there in the Senate Russell building, where I have my office, on my wall hangs a picture of my father, and a faded, but living remembrance of his decorations on the battlefields of France in 1917-18, 80 years ago-plus. They're cherished by my family, as will these recognitions be cherished by the families of these brave public service officers.

Now I'm most honored to introduce fire chief Faulkner (ph), who for a quarter of a century has been in the service of the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia and elsewhere, and has seen many times as he was on the day of this accident at the Pentagon. He has walked into the danger, accepted it, and done his duty -- Chief.

Thank you, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.

First off, I would like to thank, obviously, the actions by the Congress, by the Senate and by the House for what they are about to do.

As you know, and it was expressed earlier, there was a great deal of obviously sympathy and regret gone out to the fire services and our brothers and sisters in New York City and the other firefighters who are there assisting New York City through their tragedy. When asked, would I come down here, would I take this opportunity to say a few words, I felt obviously very honored, because of the men and women who serve our community every day.

It was addressed earlier this morning that oftentimes they would ask little, and particularly in form of recognition, but did a lot every day in and day out. So you've had an opportunity to see me and I've had an opportunity to be interviewed exclusively, regarding the Pentagon incident and the actions of our community to respond to that tragedy, so I said, why not? If I have an opportunity because of my exposure to express how critical we need those first responders in our community to do what they do, I will take this opportunity to do that.

Congressman, senators, thank you for taking the time to bestow an honor that obviously will mean so very much to the men and women who serve your neighborhoods and serve your cities and towns. So it is with a great deal of humbleness and a great deal of opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for this action that I'm here this morning.

Words cannot express what my colleagues are going through in the New York City Fire Department and around the nation as we assess how to handle these situations in the future. But I will assure you this, that those first responders, police, fire, emergency, medical technicians and paramedics will be there, and they will perform as we all have come to expect them to perform.

And, again, thank you, thank you, Senate, thank you, Congress, for this action.

HEMMER: Again, the medal of valor announced by lawmakers in Washington, again, recognition for the public safety officials, the firefighters, the and police officers, everyone who responded, not only to the World Trade Center site back on September 11th, but also at the Pentagon in Washington. We had caught wind of a similar recognition last week at the Pentagon. But, again, today, this is medal of valor this week in Washington, with the legislation to be enacted through Congress at this point.

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