To my friends and colleagues from the American Embassy and to the representatives of the American community here in El Salvador, my heartfelt thanks for being here this morning.

Tomorrow is September 11, a date that is seared in the memories of all Americans and most people worldwide.

On that date, and at this hour, three years ago, a group of terrorists from Al Qaeda commandeered four planes and stole the future from nearly 3000 innocent people from the United States and more than 90 countries around the world.

The terrorists took the lives of everyone on board those planes as well as the lives of many who worked at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and of numerous firemen and police officers who responded without thought of their personal safety to a scenario most of us could never even have imagined.

As vividly as we remember the horrors of that day, we also recall the worldwide outpouring of sorrow and solidarity – in town plazas and at U.S. embassies – in the hours and days after the attack. We remember with gratitude the visits to this Embassy by then President Francisco Flores and members of his Cabinet as well as the thousands of floral tributes – and the millions of prayers – offered by Salvadorans from every walk of life.

All of us are well aware that terrorism was not invented on September 11. Far too many countries around the world have endured tragic attacks for decades and even centuries.

The September 11 attacks, however, demonstrated that today’s terrorists intend to strike to the limits of their power. The tragedy of the school in Russia last week and the horror of the car bomb in front of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta yesterday are further proof of this.

Concerted efforts by the law enforcement, military, intelligence, diplomatic and financial community in a host of nations have significantly weakened al-Qaeda’s capabilities. But there is much still to do, and international cooperation is the key.

Understanding that, we and our allies -- including El Salvador – are working together to reconfigure national and international security arrangements to protect our people and our borders.

Our joint, long-term objective is a lasting, democratic peace in which nations can develop and prosper, free from the threat of terror.

As we approach the third anniversary of September 11, plans are moving forward in New York to build a memorial for the 9/11 victims at Ground Zero, as well as a new office tower that will be 1776-feet tall, the height deliberately chosen to symbolize the year of America’s independence. The Ground Zero memorial recalls the sad past, the new office tower our hope for the future. Together they show that we will not forget nor will our spirit be broken.

I will now ask the Marines lower our flag to half mast, while a representative of ______ joins me in laying a wreath. This wreath is meant to honor not only the souls lost on September 11, 2001 in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania, but also the many others who have fallen victim to terror, including most recently in Russia, as well as all those others – military and civilian -- who have given their lives to protect and defend the freedoms we hold so dear.

After that, while Taps is played, I ask that you join me as we bow our heads and offer a silent prayer for our fallen heroes.