Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge made his first public appearance since he suffered a stroke earlier this year, speaking about the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

On Thursday morning, Ridge released a statement and a short video filmed in Erie, his hometown. Ridge, 76, suffered a stroke on June 16.

Ridge, who was in his second term as governor in 2001, remembered those who were lost in New York City, Washington, D.C. and the souls aboard Flight 93, which crashed in western Pennsylvania.

The terrorist attacks altered Ridge’s life profoundly. He would be tapped to serve as the nation’s first homeland security director, forcing him to step down as governor.

Ridge recalled visiting the Flight 93 crash site just outside Shanksville.

“What I remember most about 9/11 is stepping off the helicopter at Shanksville, Pennsylvania — and being met by the brutal sound of silence,” Ridge said. “Emergency personnel searched the fields. Ambulances were at the ready. Rescue workers wanted someone to save.

“But, you see, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 were 40 Heroes strong. They were, in fact, the first, first responders on the scene. They had already run toward the danger – they had already taken up the battle. And they were already in the arms of God.”

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Ridge recalled the heartache over the loss of 3,000 souls but also hailed the unity and patriotism that emerged in the days after the terrorist attacks. He cited the vigils across America, volunteers bringing food to firefighters and members of Congress singing “God Bless America” on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

“At our country’s worst moment, we survived on a diet of kindness, generosity and compassion. You may not find those words in any national security plan,” Ridge said. “But I can assure you – those concepts are just as critical to our national resilience as any component of national defense.”

At a time when America seems very divided, Ridge urged Americans to come together and remember the values that unite us all.

He also pointed to the heroism shown by so many during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I know the country seems a bit fractured at the moment. And that the daily news headlines seem too much to bear,” Ridge said in his statement. “Some of you have told me you’re feeling overwhelmed by the challenges we face and uncertain about our ability to meet them.

“But I would ask you to remember: Our shared values, our shared responsibility to one another and the country we all cherish – that’s been the hallmark of the American story writ large for the last 20 years, for the last 245 years,” he said. “Even in these last 20 months, doctors, nurses, teachers, grocery clerks, truck drivers, people everywhere, have pulled together to keep our economy moving, our students learning and all of us healthy and safe.”

Ridge said such service is part of “America’s DNA.”

“We know that our humanity toward one another is our saving grace,” Ridge said. “We know this — not because we were always good to each other in the past, or because we’ve always been a truly United States. We know it because, at times, we’ve strayed from that humanity, that empathy and that unity. We’ve learned from the consequences of our mistakes that America is not perfect – so we try harder and strive to be a more perfect union.”

In the 5-minute video, Ridge, wearing a dark suit jacket and light blue tie, spoke solemnly and with reverence about those lost on Sept. 11, 2001. A Vietnam veteran and former U.S. congressman, he spoke with gratitude about his lifetime of service. He also served as honorary co-chair for the Flight 93 National Memorial outside Shanksville.

“I’m profoundly grateful for the opportunities I was given to serve my country,” Ridge said. “From soldier to Secretary, I’ve seen America on its worst days and its best. I’ve seen people give all they had to give. And I’ll never forget it.”

“I’ll never forget the silence on a Pennsylvania field one September morning. Or the sacrifice of 40 Heroes strong.”

While speaking soberly, Ridge also spoke with hope about America’s possibilities and promise.

In conclusion, Ridge said, “May we keep their memories close – as well as each other. God bless you. And may God continue to bless America.”