 I'm Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense. I'm speaking to you today from the Pentagon, where 20 years ago, Al Qaeda terrorists killed 184 innocent people in the building and on Flight 77. And as we approach the 20-year commemoration of the attacks, our hearts are with the families of those who were taken from us, with the first responders who raced to the scene, and with our teammates who were wounded in body and in spirit. So on behalf of the Department of Defense, let me renew our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those that we lost on 9-11, on the hijacked planes here at the Pentagon, in New York City, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. And I'm thinking today of the 13 brave men and women who just days ago gave their lives to save others in Afghanistan, many of whom were babies back in September 2001. As time marches forward, it's all of our responsibility to remember and to teach and to listen to the stories of our teammates who were here on 9-11. Now, we can't know what challenges the next 20 years will bring, but we do know that America will always lead. And we do know the North Star that will guide us forward. It's the core values of our democracy and the principles of our Constitution. 20 years later, we still defend the nation from this building and from places around the world. And it will be our solemn duty to live up to the memory of all those who are taken from us, to stand guard over the republic that our teammates gave their lives to defend and to continue to care for and support their families. Thank you and may God protect the United States of America.