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Ron Barber: We want to welcome all of you to this very special event. As we gather once
again as a strong and compassionate community to remember the tragedy of January 8th and
honor the six good people who died, those who were wounded and are recovering and to
acknowledge the unity, compassion, love and support that defines who we are.
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Barber: I’d like to invite Congresswoman Giffords to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Welcome home Congresswoman.
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Gabrielle Giffords: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
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Eugene Sander: So again on behalf of your University of Arizona, its students, its faculty
and staff I want to wish Congressman Gabrielle Giffords continued progress in her recovery
so she can return to home to the mountains and the desert which she loves so deeply.
Peter Rhee: On behalf of the University Medical Center and all the personnel thank you for
the recognition and thank you for the respect. Today let’s not forget those who died, but
let’s also not forget to get past our sorrow and move forward with our lives. Those of
us in medicine get our fuel from seeing people get back in the saddle again.
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Mark Kelly: And yet, even with those painful realities there is this: the sun still rises
over the Rincon Mountains each and every morning. Tucson remains a great city, a special place,
an oasis in the desert, where our bonds of community were strengthened under the stress
and sadness of a horrible moment.
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(Singing) Marco’s shadow falls on the door to the seven lost cities of gold.
We love you Gabby.
Let’s sing it Tucson, come on!
