September 11, 2001

WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, the United States of America sustained massive loss of life and incalculable damage inflicted by forces of evil in the hijacking and crashing of four commercial jetliners on domestic soil, and

WHEREAS, the thousands who first bore directly, unto death, the brunt of this terrorism were the occupants of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the passengers and crews of the jetliners, and

WHEREAS, both those charged by duty with guarding public safety, and those who volunteered to do so, responded immediately in New York City and Washington, D.C., to toil tirelessly, endlessly, and indeed selflessly to rescue and recover victims from the debris of building collapse and, moreover, did so in the face of great risk of further collapse, and

WHEREAS, human loss sustained by the New York City Fire Department and the New York City Police Department numbered in the hundreds as the result of the buildings' collapse, and

WHEREAS, some occupants of the World Trade Center delayed their own escape from the buildings by aiding in the evacuation of others, and finally,

WHEREAS, credible evidence suggests that some passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93, thought to be en route to Washington, D.C., for further destruction, aborted the mission by contesting control of the jetliner and thereby limited the loss of life to their own, in a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the CARNEGIE HERO FUND COMMISSION, established in 1904 by ANDREW CARNEGIE on conviction that the heroes of civilization "preserve or rescue their fellows" in contrast to the "heroes of barbarism, (who) maimed or killed theirs," hereby add its voice to those decrying these unconscionable deeds of mass murder and destruction, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in its mission to honor those who exhibit no greater love than to lay down their lives for their friends (St. John 15:13), this Commission with profound respect recognize as HEROES OF CIVILIZATION those countless who gave of themselves in behalf of others and especially those whose response was their last, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that, in further tribute to the above, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission commit to a contribution of one hundred thousand dollars to help provide relief to the victims of this tragic day.