By Assemblyman Tony Mendoza

In 1917, during a speech to Congress, President Woodrow Wilson said, "The world must be made safe for democracy," and added "It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war."  President Wilson was speaking to the ever growing threat of German aggression overseas and against international commerce ships.

These excerpts from President Wilson's speech could have easily been given days or weeks after September 11, 2001 and been just as appropriate as our nation again faced an enemy filled with malicious intent.

As we reflect on that horrendous day in our history and pay tribute to fellow citizens who raced to save other fellow citizens and pay homage to those who perished, we should also take note of our nation's resilience when faced with threat.

Our steadfast ability to cope with adversaries is based in part on our ability to organize and unite under a single banner with a common purpose; to protect our freedoms and preserve our liberties.

Now seven years after 9/11, our ability to organize is still being tested.  Though we may have difference of opinions on the Iraq war, I believe that we all share the same goal of protecting our country from future attacks and reducing the risk of rogue nations from acquiring weapons of eminent destruction.

We should all take pause and remind ourselves that national emergencies may still come in any form and that we must be prepared for anything.  This is why I urge you to visit www.redcross.org to learn about The American Red Cross and their disaster preparedness programs and their volunteer and training programs in order to protect loved ones in the event of an emergency.

For many in our nation, September 11, 2001 has become a day of mourning, while for others it serves as a reminder of a call to action.  How ever you view it, know that every American will be united in their resolve and that our nation will never forget it.

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Sincerely,

Assemblyman Tony Mendoza
District 56