At dusk Monday, party politicking was put aside as the nation’s legislators stood united on the Capitol steps. A bicameral 9/11 remembrance ceremony drew scores of lawmakers, along with a crowd of onlookers, as the horror of the attacks was remembered and those who gave their lives were honored as heroes.

The United States Marine band led the crowd in singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, among others, addressed the crowd. His voice was strong, full of emotion. “I remember everything,” he said. “When the first plane hit, I assumed it was an accident. When the second plane hit, I knew we were at war.”

“I don’t suppose there was a single person in this country that morning who thought we’d be able to stand here today, 10 years later, and say there hadn’t been a single major attack on our homeland since then,” he continued. “And we have the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, together with scores of intelligence personnel, to thank for it. They have proven, beyond doubt, that al-Qaeda was wrong about the United States. And as long as we remain vigilant, and hold fast to the policies that have guided their good work, we’ll continue to prove it.”