Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney was in Reno Tuesday addressing the National Guard Convention at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
The National Guard Association of the United States says Romney addressed about 4,000 Guard officers and their guests.
Romney focused his 18 minute long speech on their service and well-being after coming home after missions saying that we can't cut corners. "They should not struggle to find work" when they come home. "We also have to keep the faith to our veterans."
Romney says today is about expressing gratitude to those who protect us, not about disagreeing with President Obama on policies. "It is instead a day to express gratitude for the men and women who fought, and who are still fighting to protect us and our country, including those who trace the trail of terror to that wall wall of compound in Abbottabad and the SEALS who delivered justice to Osama bin Laden."
He also spoke about what he was doing on the tragic day 11 years ago.
"Like you I remember where I was on September 11th, I was originally planning to be in Battery Park in New York City not far from the World Trade Center itself. As it turned out I was in Washington DC to meet with members of Congress about preparations for the security for the upcoming Olympic Winter games. My colleague and I were working in the office we had in the Ronald Reagan building it was just a few blocks from the White House. Someone rushed into our office and said that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I turned on the small tv on our desk there and watched in shock as the flames and smoke erupted from the North Tower. I called my wife Ann, she too watched the tragedy from her TV and wondered how a plane could fly into a building in clear daylight. And then we saw the second plane crash into the second tower. These then were purposeful attacks. These were terrorist attacks. These were evil and cowardly and heinous attacks."
The Republican nominee has spoken at the NGAUS conference five consecutive election years.
Friday morning, Republican Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan spoke at Peterbilt Truck Parts and Equipment in Sparks.
Meanwhile, President Obama will be in Las Vegas on Wednesday. There's no word yet on if and when he will return to Reno.
President Obama and his wife took part in moments of silence at the White House and at the Pentagon, where he met with victims' families. Vice President Joe Biden attended a memorial service at the site where one of the hijacked planes went down.
