LANSING, Mich., Sept. 15, 2026 — Today, state Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn), joined by Dearborn City Council President Pro Tem and Michigan Army National Guard Captain Kamal Alsawafy, attended a ceremony in memory of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. After the ceremony, Byrnes released the following statement:
“Today we commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of the 9/11 first responders who went headfirst into disaster and worked tirelessly to rescue the survivors and recover the victims. This is what our first responders always do: show up when it matters most. These courageous individuals saved lives that day and in the days that followed, performed a service that we as a country are eternally grateful for.
“I was honored today to be joined in this solemn remembrance by Captain Kamal Alsawafy, who has earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge during his military service. He continues to serve the public in the Michigan Army National Guard and as President Pro Tem of the Dearborn City Council.
“As we reflect on the twenty-five years since 9/11, I think of what our first responders reminded us of that day, and every day since, which is that even in the darkest moments, there will always be those who serve as a light to all of us. In the same way that I am inspired by Captain Alsawafy’s service, we should all be inspired by the dedication of our community’s first responders. May we all aspire to be a light in our own communities in ways big and small. That is the legacy of the 9/11 first responders, and it is something we can all commit ourselves to in remembrance of their bravery.”
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