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FM thanks airport heroes
07/08/2007
First Minister Alex Salmond tonight hosted a reception to recognise the contribution made by individuals and organisations involved in responding to the recent attack on Glasgow Airport.
The reception was held at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in front of 500 guests including emergency service workers, staff from Glasgow airport and members of the public who all showed courage in the face of suspected terrorists.
Mr Salmond said:
"Tonight we recognise the courage and the commitment to public safety demonstrated by each of those involved in the response to the Glasgow airport attack.
"It is an evening with both a sombre and a celebratory function. On one level, it is an evening which we hoped we would never have.
"But on another level, this is also a night to celebrate the triumph of collective effort and united strength in the face of those terror attacks. If it was shocking and alarming that Scotland might be the target for terrorism, the response to that threat was surely a remarkable expression of community solidarity. Tonight is my chance to express the immense gratitude and the admiration of a nation to those who helped avert a major disaster.
"I often hear people saying 'I was just doing my job'. Maybe so, but let that never allow the rest of society who rely on that bravery, professionalism and training to forget how privileged we are to have you on our side.
"There is another vital aspect of this attack which I want to note - the sense that all of Scotland's diverse communities stood together at a difficult time. Where other nations might have feared division, I was always certain that we would remain united."