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SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday it was "kind of eerie" being at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City on the 13th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States.
Herbert's visit came the day after President Barack Obama called for stepping up the fight against the Islamic State group that's rampaging through Syria and Iraq and is responsible for the beheading of two American journalists.
"I feel like, in light of recent current events and the president's message last night, that this is kind of deja vu all over again. It really is kind of eerie in that regard," the governor told the Deseret News in a telephone interview after an hourlong visit.
Herbert laid a wreath on behalf of Utahns at the memorial's Survivor Tree and toured the new museum along with the victims' families and first responders from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, the deadliest in U.S. history.
"It was humbling. It was sobering, and it was inspirational — all at one time. It shows the resiliency of New York, the resiliency of the American spirit. In spite of tragedy, something good has come of this," Herbert said.
Being in the museum with people directly affected by the deaths of thousands when the massive World Trade Center towers fell after they were struck by jets hijacked by terrorists "was really tender. It does give you pause," he said.
It was humbling. It was sobering, and it was inspirational — all at one time. It shows the resiliency of New York, the resiliency of the American spirit. In spite of tragedy, something good has come of this.
–Gov. Gary Herbert
So has the renewed war on terror.
Herbert said he backs the president's plan to send more support troops and airstrikes to try to stop ISIL, the Islamic State of Levant, a move seen as committing the United States to additional years of conflict in the Middle East.
Obama's message, the governor said, is "similar to what President Bush said when we first got engaged in this war on terror. So I support him, I pray for him. I pray for all those who have to make tough decisions."
The actions of the Islamic State group demonstrate that "clearly, evil exists in this world," Herbert said. "But the way evil succeeds is when good men do nothing, so doing nothing is not an option. Doing the right thing is the challenge."
The governor said he has been several times to the site since first seeing it a decade ago during the 2004 Republican National Convention.
"To see the transition, the cleanup work and the rise of this memorial, it's been quite stunning to see the effort and to see the completion of it," he said, especially the museum's tribute to the victims.
In the museum, Herbert was able to see images and memories of the two Utah 9/11 victims, Carolyn Berg and Mary Wahlstrohm, projected onto a wall. Being able to remember more than just their names, he said, was "very touching."
Herbert, who is spending the week in Washington, D.C., and New York City for both political and policy meetings also laid a wreath Wednesday at the Pentagon memorial site marking that 9/11 attack.
Contributing: Sam Penrod
