Sen. Joni Ernst

Senator Joni Ernst

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst on Thursday said “the scars of 9/11” are still with many Americans today.

“America will never forget those who were lost and our prayers are with their loved ones who continue to feel the deepest pain at their absence,” Ernst said, pausing then apologizing as her voice broke with emotion. “All of you know how deeply I feel about our war on terror and those that we’ve lost.”

Ernst spoke with reporters yesterday about the approaching 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

Ernst said in a written statement that while 9/11 is becoming a “distant memory” for some Americans, there are thousands of U.S. soldiers on duty in the fight against terrorism. And Ernst noted that students entering high school this fall were born after the airliner attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.