President Schneider's Speech

to the Corps of Cadets and Central Vermont - Sept. 14, 2001

(as transcribed by Norwich Guidon staff)

Welcome, everyone, to Norwich University, birthplace of ROTC, and the Military College of Vermont. Governor Dean, General Todd, other distinguished general officers, friends of Northfield and central Vermont, faculty, staff, and students, good afternoon!

Why are we here? President Bush proclaimed today a national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of the terrorist act. We come together as individuals, as a Corps of Cadets, as a faculty and staff and students, as a university community, as men and women and family members of Northfield and central Vermont; we come to pray, and we come to remember. We come to grieve for those who were killed or injured. We come to comfort those who have lost a loved one. We come to show support for the peoples of New York City and Washington, DC. We come to bind ourselves together as a community, as a state, and as a nation. We come to renew our spirit, to find inner strength to deal with this tragedy and what yet is before us. We come to pray for wisdom for our leaders. We pray for clarity of thought for them, for the plans that are unfolding and are in preparation for the days and weeks and, perhaps, years to follow. We pray for success and the protection of our relief workers. And, God, we ask for healing of our land and our people.

So how have we responded? As a nation, we have seen incredible actions and acts of heroism, compassion, fear, disbelief, exhaustion, pride, terror, and anguish. We have seen every possible human emotion vividly portrayed in front of us.

At Norwich, we responded with a 48-hour vigil, with prayer services, with students volunteering as nurses or E.M.T.s, or those that are in the Guard, or the Reserve. We have responded with the comfort to our students, faculty and staff, and our alums who have lost loved ones, some of whom we still don't have the final answer on their accountability yet, or their safety. That's what we've done so far.

And what can we do for the rest of today and in the future? First, to my students, you can study like you've never studied before. And you can develop your minds, and your technical expertise, and your ability to reason. The country will need this type of intellect as we go forward. You can build your physical strength, because we will need mighty arms to defend us and protect us and carry out the policies and actions of this government and for this great Republic. And lastly, you can build your character and your leadership to know what's right from wrong, so your decisions will be based on moral and spiritual truths… that's what my students can do today and every day that they remain at Norwich, because the country will need them.

For our faculty, our job is to make sure that you're ready intellectually for the challenges ahead. We need to review every aspect of our academic programs and our curriculum to ensure that we're preparing you for this new world order (not so much order, the last several days).

But there are certainly new threats to our beloved Republic, and our job is to make sure that you're ready to be the next set of leaders.

For all of us in the community in Northfield and central Vermont, you need to help us on October 9th. You need to be back to Norwich. The U.S. Red Cross will be here on our campus, and just as the people in New York City and Washington, DC gave their blood, we need you to give yours for them, and for future victims, to ensure that we have adequate blood supplies. Life-giving supplies.

In the next several days, there will be community service projects led by our students to raise money for the people who have lost everything in New York City, Washington, DC, and those that died in Pennsylvania.

This is an incredible teaching moment, --oh, but, my God, at such great price. This is the moment to bind us together as a nation. This is a moment for us to stand with those that are hurting. It's a moment to stand with our president and commander-in-chief, and make it clear to the rest of the world that we will not tolerate attacks on civilization. It's a moment that we stand with all of our allies and friends across the world and say that attacks on one is an attack on all of us.

We stand on the Upper Parade ground today united as a university, united as Northfield, united as the state of Vermont, united as a nation, and united as civilized people. We will preserve, through this national tragedy and personal loss, this great Republic. In the days ahead, we will find healing for our land and for our people. And in the face of all this evil, we will remain strong and united as one nation under God.

God bless Norwich, and God bless America!

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to present Governor Howard Dean.

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