Let this great Freedom Tower show the world that what our enemies sought to destroy -- our democracy, our freedom, our way of life -- stands taller than ever before,

I personally believe that the celebration of freedom is not inconsistent with the goals of memorializing our nearly 3,000 lost heroes,

The celebration of freedom is not inconsistent with the goals of memorializing our nearly 3,000 lost heroes,

Since June, we have offered the International Freedom Center (IFC) the time they needed to clarify their intentions and work with stakeholders to reach a consensus, ... Today there remains too much opposition, too much controversy over the programming of the IFC.

What better day to lay the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower than the day our country declared its independence.

After the tragedy, New Yorkers are more united than ever in their vision, as well as in appreciation what living in freedom means - and that if we stand together, we can accomplish anything.