Obama commemorates 9/11 in weekly address

President Obama commemorated the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in his weekly address Saturday, pledging that “Americans will never give in to fear” even in the wake of recent terror attacks.

{mosads}Obama mourned the “nearly 3,000 innocent lives” that were lost that day.

“Sons and daughters, husbands and wives, neighbors and colleagues and friends,” he said. “They were from all walks of life, all races and religions, all colors and creeds, from across America and around the world.”

The president applauded the first responders who were on scene at the attacks and people who have served the country in the years since — “who serve, and have given their lives, to help keep us safe. “

He acknowledged the strides the country has made at fighting terrorism and vowed to defeat new threats that have arisen, like the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

“At the same time, the terrorist threat has evolved, as we’ve seen so tragically from Boston to Chattanooga, from San Bernardino to Orlando,” he said. “So in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and beyond, we’ll stay relentless against terrorists like al Qaeda and ISIL. We will destroy them. And we’ll keep doing everything in our power to protect our homeland.”  

Terror attacks have not forced Americans to compromise their core values, Obama said, promising that terrorists will not be able to defeat the U.S.

“In the face of terrorism, how we respond matters,” he continued. “We cannot give in to those who would divide us. We cannot react in ways that erode the fabric of our society. 

“Because it’s our diversity, our welcoming of all talent, our treating of everybody fairly — no matter their race, gender, ethnicity, or faith — that’s part of what makes our country great. It’s what makes us resilient. And if we stay true to those values, we’ll uphold the legacy of those we’ve lost, and keep our nation strong and free.”