Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement on the anniversary of 9-11. 

"I still remember that terrible day, and I will never forget the fear we all felt and the grief we experienced seeing our nation attacked.

"On September 11, 2001, I was walking to my Washington, D.C. office when I received a call from South Carolina. My staff told me to turn on the television because a plane had just struck the World Trade Center in New York. I went back home and almost immediately after turning on the television saw the second plane hit the Twin Towers.

"It was then and there that I, like almost all Americans, realized this was not an accident. Our nation was under attack.

"The House and Senate offices were evacuated and my staff came over to my house to watch the horror of what was unfolding around us. I remember walking outside and seeing the unbelievable sight of smoke rising from the Pentagon and hearing the roar of fighter jets circling the Capitol.

"Watching our nation come under attack and seeing our fellow citizens killed by terrorists was a sickening feeling. We must never let our country be exposed like that again.

"Tragically, 9/11 now also marks the one year anniversary since the terrorist attack on our Consulate in Benghazi that took the lives of four brave Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.

"President Obama promised the American people we would track down those responsible and bring them to justice. One year after the attack, no one has been held accountable.

"Questions about what happened in Benghazi remain unanswered and the American people deserve answers. But most of all, we owe it to the victims' families. I have met many of them, and I will not stop pushing for accountability and for answers so I can look them in the eye and tell them the truth about what happened.

"America must never forget September 11. We must continue to confront the radical ideology behind both of these evil attacks and remain diligent in our efforts to prevent them from ever happening again.

"One of the most vivid memories from that day twelve years ago was when Members of the House and Senate gathered on the Capitol steps to show our resolve and spontaneously began to sing God Bless America. If we can recapture that spirit of unity in our country, I am confident we can defeat Radical Islam.

"On this special day, let's be mindful of the threats we face, appreciative of our freedoms, and thankful for the first responders and brave men and women in uniform who protect us."

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