[ applause ] [ Bell Ringing ] a Moment Of Silence for when Flight 93 crashed in shanksville. Youve been listening to the 9 11 ceremony in new york. Before that, the pentagon, where the leaders of the military spoke, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff, general Mark Milley, and the Secretary Of Defense, Lloyd Austin. Secretary austin will join us live in a moment. First, lets bring back gerad and jalia. I want to talk about the heroism of the staff. And the crew. Important distinction for the families. And the passengers. It is almost such an amazing story that people almost express disbelief, that its become a myth. No, its real. It really did happen. There were all these heros, including the crew, as you note, that saved how many thousands of lives, we dont know, by forcing that plane down. Tell us more. Yeah. This is one of the things that you Sort Of see throughout that day. These little moments that end up making a big difference. What makes a difference there is Flight 93 took off 42 minutes late. All the Other planes that morning took off on time. Flight 93 took off at 8 42, late from newark, just like any Other airplane trying to take off from a new York Area airport. Yeah. What the difference is, that means when the passengers and crew began to place those telephone calls, talked to the ground 37 times in that morning, they heard what was happening in new york. They heard what was happening in washington. So unlike all of the Other passengers and crew that day, they understood what their fate was going to be. They had the knowledge and the time to react that the Other three hijacked flights did not. Of course, we remember todd beamer, his fateful words, lets roll. Its the last thing his widow heard. There were many moments of courage and heroism. Theyre also the story of the day. Not just aggression but kindness. Yes. We really did see the best of this country, the best of humanity in many ways. Remember how many people were adrift because we didnt have realtime information. You didnt know if there was going to be anOther series of attacks by that afternoon or the next day. So people were literally not able theyre across the island in new jersey, and theyre not able to get home for a couple days. People are taken in. People are comforted. That sense of unity, that were going to help each Other. 93 remembers, i think, that. Its hard for us to imagine now that there were no protocols about what to do in a sequential Terrorist Attack because we never envisioned it. There were two reasons why. One was we always thought of counterterrorism, Up To Bin Laden, that the taking of an airplane would be a hijacking situation. Hostage. Right. The terrorists wanted to be seen. Free the prisoners or give us 5 million, yeah. What happened at one stage in one of the planes was mohamed thinks he is talking to the Passenger Hijacking situation. Remain calm. We doesnt want the passengers in the cockpit. People need to remember the Cockpit Doors were not fortified. He pressed the Wrong Button and discloses to control towers what is happening. They realize we dont just have one plane up in the air, we have two, three, possibly more. Then theyre grounded. Flight 93 had, because of the delay, the benefit of time for the passengers to make that decision and say, theres no good option here. What is the less bad option . In many ways, that describes the last 20 years. What is the less bad option . They chose for us, not for them. One Other thing about Flight 93 in shanksville, pennsylvania, that is interesting, we have heard from the Secretary Of Defense. We heard from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff. We have not heard today from president biden, though he put out a video. Obviously, hes the president. He could have chosen to speak if he wanted to. He opted in and out to. President clinton opted not to. President obama opted not to. President george w. Bush is going to speak in shanksville, pennsylvania. He, of course, was the president on that day. In a way, and i have no idea what kind of conversations went on behind closed doors, but just based on The End result, president biden, i think graciously, is ceding the day in terms of public speaking to the president 20 years ago. Yeah. I think were seeing that this was a day for history. You know, there are days before and after this to debate everything thats gone right and wrong over the last 20 years, but today is a day to remember the attacks, remember the sacrifices, remember the heroism. One of the things im thinking about, here we are in Lower Manhattan, Sort Of between what would have been the World Trade Center and the seawall here at the battery in Lower Manhattan. One of the great Untold Stories of 9 11 that day. The civilian armada that comes together to evacuate the people trapped by the collapse of the two towers. The largest maritime evacuation in world history. Larger than the british evacuation of dunkirk happened just right where were standing. 500,000 people brought out from Lower Manhattan to new jersey, to brooklyn, to staten island, by this armada of fishing vessels, pleasure yachts, tugboats, and passenger ferries. 130 boats hauled in by the coast guard. Mariners all across new york. I think on this point about Sort Of this is the moment were pivoting the history. Whats really important to people who are in government now and protecting america, all the amazing first responders and Others, is what did we miss that led to this 20 years ago . I think in some ways, our History Cant begin on September 11th. When you look at the steady Drum Beat of what Bin Laden was Sort Of warning us, the bread crumbs, right . They dont begin 2001. The first World Trade Center bombing. The transcontinental attacks. The africa embassy bombings. Uss millennial attempt. All of them somehow affiliated with Bin Laden. Yeah. Part of that history is to also learn what did we miss in preparation for future threats . George w. Bush, the former President And Vice president Kamala Harris will speak a short time from now. Theyll be in shanksville, in the commonwealth of pennsylvania. Stay here. This is cnns special live coverage. Well be right back. Psoriatic arthritis, made my joints stiff, swollen, painful. Tremfya® is approved to help reduce joint symptoms in adults with active psoriatic arthritis. Some patients even felt less fatigued. Serious allergic reactions may occur. Tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a Vaccine Or Plan to. Tremfya®. Emerge tremfyant™. Janssen can help you explore Cost Support options. September 11th i made three calls. First to my father. Ayy, ayy, ayy yeah, we fancy like applebees on a Date Night got that Bourbon Street Steak with the Oreo Shake get some whipped cream on the top too two straws, one check, girl, i got you bougie like natty in the Styrofoam Squeaksqueakin in the Truck Bed All The Way Home some alabamajamma, she my dixieland delight ayy, thats how we do, how we do, fancy like, oh listerine® cleans virtually 100 . Helping to prevent Gum Disease and bad breath. Never settle for 25 . Always go for 100. Bring out the bold™ this is cnns special coverage. 20 years since the September 11th terror attacks. Ceremony at the pentagon wrapping up. Secretary Lloyd Austin will be joining me live in few minutes. We have lots to discuss on this important day. Also, george w. Bush and Vice President Kamala Harris, they will speak live in shanksville, pennsylvania. All that coming up. Right now, i want to bring in our pentagon correspondent, orin lieberman. I know this is an emotional day for the military Men And Women and the civilians who work here, as well. Reporter wolf, there were two incredibly difficult periods over the last few weeks leading Up To this moment and this ceremony. First, on the day of the horrible Terrorist Attack at Kabul International Airport when 13 Service Members were killed. 11 marines, a sailor, and a soldier. That weighed on the building, that those would be the last u. S. Service members killed in after s afghanistan. It led Up To thursday and friday as the building and the generals here, officers and everybody else, prepared for this moment. Again, you could feel the weight of the moment in the building and how painful it was to think about 20 years over the course of all that has happened. And you heard some of that in the words of those who spoke here. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff general Mark Milley talked about the solemn duty to remember and the conflict that many feel here, looking back at the last 20 years. Feelings that include anger. He also gave words of encouragement. He said, and ill quote here, you did your duty. Your service mattered. Your sacrifice was not in vain. That was echoed later by Secretary Of Defense Lloyd Austin, who spoke about what the compass is, what guides the pentagon, what it is thinking, the values that guide the P Pentagon and the country. He said the only compass for the queer years ahead is our values. Exactly 20 years later to the minute where the american Flight 77 hit the side of the pentagon on the first floor, penetrating three of the outer rings into the building. 20 years to the minute later after that was a Moment Of Silence with the ceremony here wrapped up. Many made their way over my right shoulder behind us, survivors, first responders, and Loved Ones of the fallen, to the memorial garden, where there are 184 memorial benches, each with an engraved name. All the innocent victims who were killed on that horrible day here. 125 in the building itself. 59 more on the flight. Thats where many still are pausing, reflecting on what, of course, is a difficult day that brings back even more difficult memories. One that has defined this building and, wolf, if i may to get to that point, how much 9 11 defined what would happen here, the missions, the values, the ideas, the resources even of what would happen over the course of the last two decades, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff that day had run over to the hill. General richard meyers. He took with him a young intern, a captain, just for a quick visit to the hill. They then rushed back after they realized what was unfolding. 20 years later, that captain would become major general chris donahue, the commander of the 82nd airborne, the last u. S. Service member to leave afghanistan days ago, wolf. Amazing, amazing story indeed. Oren liebermann, thank you very much. Ill be speaking with the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. He is coming here. Well discuss this historic day. 20 years after 9 11 and the u. S. Led invasion of afghanistan, sadly, the taliban is back in control of afghanistan right now. President biden withdrawing all u. S. Troops at The End of august, marking a chaotic and deadly conclusion to americas longest war. 20 years. Nick robertson is sqjoining us from kabul. Hes live on the scene. You spent a lot of time in afghanistan, including 20 years ago on this day. Tell us whats going on now. Reporter kabul is really experiencing, i think, a different day to the rest of the world over this. The taliban are sortanniversary. They dont want to be part of it. This is not, theyve always said, not part of them, not part of their ethos. This, of course, is very much focused on them and about them and about their control of the country. But the people in the city today, theyre not really thinking also about September The 11th and the tragedy and the hurt and the harm that it brought. For them really, the issue at the moment is the economy. Theyre more worried about how theyre going to be able to feed their families in the coming weeks. Theyre more worried about what are the taliban going to turn into here . When do they start really cracking down on people . So theres a lot of Fear And Concern in the background. The taliban, i think, at the moment are trying to Sort Of stop the division that exists within their ranks getting out of control. Thats Sort Of, you know, in the background here, as well, as well as dealing with the international community. But i think when you think back to those 20 years ago today, the experience for this city was going through, that moment when it became clear that Al Qaeda was behind the attack, that Al Qaeda, osama Bin Laden were based here in afghanistan, that u. S. Forces would be coming here to oust Al Qaeda and the taliban. I think when you go back in time to that moment, people here were hoping that it could bring something better to afghanistan. The place were at today is the 20 year Long War for the united states here is one that many afghans feel that theyve suffered from. Theyre very afraid of what the taliban brings now. They feel theyre in a new phase. The reality of that new phase is its very likely going to be a new phase of the Civil War that they experienced before. The lack of full control over the country that they had before, and that means that there are groups likal Ke Al Qa and Other Terrorist Groups in the country that are likely going to be able to use the terrain of afghanistan to train their own fighters. If they have an agenda to attack the united states or europe, then they will be able to do that in the spaces available here. Because the war, internal war in this country, is far from over, and the taliban do not have the strength at the moment to control the whole country, wolf. Nic, i want you to be careful over there. Well stay in very close touch with you. Nic robertson in kabul, afghanistan. You know, the biden administration gets a lot of credit for getting about 125,000 people, american citizens, american residents, friends of the united states, afghans who were very loyal and helpful to the u. S. Out, but so many Others have been left behind. Theres a lot of criticism of the chaotic way the war ended. And the way that the White House has really responded to that is talking about why the president pulled troops out of afghanistan and how important it was in april when he initially announced this. The deadline was today, 9 11, the 20th anniversary. He did not want troops still in afghanistan. Earlier, when yall were sharing where you were on 9 11, i hesitated to share mine. I was in the fourth grade. I remember the day incredibly clearly, but now that i think about it, you know, this is something that shaped an entire generation. My generation, you know, we grew up, this is the only thing that, you know, weve known for most of our lives. A big backdrop of it. When the Defense Secretary was speaking, talking about some killed in the Suicide Blast during the withdrawal, they were babies when 9 11 happened. They ended up giving their lives in afghanistan, serving the country. And when you go to section 60 in arlington national cemetery, and you look at some of the headstones and they say, 1989, 1990, 1991, when these people were born, and killed in afghanistan in serving, it really makes you think back to so much of the president s emphasis for why he wanted to do that and why he felt it was important to withdraw those troops. I think thats been a major factor. To see it come full circle now 20 years later, this is still something thats at the forefront of our conversation about u. S. Foreign policy. It is going to continue to be at the forefront in the coming weeks, months, and maybe years. Years. It is interesting just seeing Nic Robertson overseas in kabul. Remembering in our early days of covering the White House. Nic robertson first on the technical side and then became a fantastic correspondent. We were still dealing with george h. W. Bush and into the clinton and then the george w. Bush presidency. The fall of the berlin wall, where are the russian estonia, lithuania, then 9 11 flipped the whole Worlds Attention to terrorism, to Al Qaeda, and the broader question. Now, what is the next chapter of that, the next generation of that . Yes, americas longest war is over. Yes, theres going to be a political debate about that for some time. What is the next chapter . Part of that the cyber. Part of that is one of the lessons of 9 11, using technology. One of the, some would say, painful lessons after using drones instead of troops. Were in a whole new chapter and a new debate now. There is no Al Qaeda on the scale of capability that it had on 9 11. There is terrorism all over the world, as we have seen, sadly. So what is the next chapter . How does the government adapt to the chapter . Will the government learn the same mistakes or learn the lessons the point of younger people, will they study the history and embrace it . One of the positive things of 9 11, on the Other side of this, i used to live in an apartment across the street here when this building blew up. I urge any american coming through the area, just sit there. Yes, this changed our government. Yes, this changed the world. There were heros who lost their lives that day, and they are memorialized there. Shanksville is one of the most touching, moving places you can remember. I was there in the days when the Chain Link Fence went up. Now, it is a formal museum. Theyre spectacular tributes to the heros, and first responders who gave their lives that day. It is inevitably part of our history and will be for generations. How we deal with it but just remembering the Everyday Americans who were part of the day, those who lost their lives, those who tried to help. These memorials and museums are so fantastic. Thats why we are doing what were doing today. Thats why the country and the world stops on days that changed history, to remember that history. Because if we as a society dont remember history, then were bound to repeat it. Weve seen that time and time again throughout humanity, and, you know, the fact that we are doing this, it is for those of us who lived through it, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, those who were Family Members and friends of those who were, but also for the people who are not old enough to remember, to understand how impactful it was. The horrors and the heroism. Democrats and republicans, liberals and conservatives got together. You were on Capitol Hill. I was reporting what was going on. I remember this moment. Watch this. With the light from above from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with Foam God bless america my Home Sweet Home God bless america my Home Sweet home [ applause ] you remember that moment. It brought tears to a lot of eyes around the country and, indeed, around the world. It still gives me goosebumps. I was standing right there along with so many Other reporters who covered Capitol Hill after an entire day where we had been scattered, had been kept away from the capitol, trying to figure out just, like so many us, what is going on . Where the people we were supposed to keep tabs on, where they were. Then Senator Biden wanted to come back. Others wanted to come back on the steps of the capitol in a bipartisan way to say, we will not be deterred. There were leaders in both parties who spoke. That was impromptu. They walked away and Rank And File members just started singing in an impromptu way. I just thought that was, looking back, one of the most indelible moments for a lot of reasons. Not the least of which is that when there was within actual attack, very different attack on the capitol recently, we had a very different reaction. Brought tears to my yies. Le eyes. Lets go back to new york. [ Bell Tolling ] i never saw myself before you looked at me before you kissed my lips before you smiled at me and i knew that day i would never be alone and its the only way like never got me low tears never broke me down i always know id be by your side so id never be alone but all that is broken right now and everything is solid but the ground beneath youll never be alone youll never be alone if you fall, ill catch you i wont ever let you be alone i never want you to to be uncertain i listen to every word believe every single dream the world has a funny way of making you feel like youre alone when trials and troubles come, Grab One you know youre my one concern if im far away you know that ill find my way back to your side when the time starts to roll and wind starts to blow when the thing youre afraid of is invisible youll never be alone youll never be alone if you fall, ill catch you i wont ever let you be alone if you fall, ill catch you i wont ever let you be alone no, youll never be alone [ applause ] madame Vice President , second gentleman. President and mrs. Bush. Secretary holland. Governor wolf. Cap captain kirtz. Ambassador kiben. Steve, superintendent clark. Distinguished guests, families, friends, ambassadors, and all that join us today, near or far, i welcome you to the 20th Remembrance Ceremony of September 11th, 2001. Here at the Flight 93 national memorial. To the Men And Women that serve aboard the Uss Somerset here today, and all of those active duty members and veterans in attendance near and far. You honor us with your presence. We must never forget that there are thousands of your brethren bravely injured or that have lost their lives while serving or as a result of their service during these past 20 years. Their loss reminds us that September 11th was not a singular event. But a date that marked a cultural Paradigm Shift in our country and for freedomloving people across the globe. To the families of Flight 93 here and at home, honoring a loved one, my heart goes out to you. Having lost a brOther on September 11th, i, too, live with the grief that is deep, consuming, and always present. For those that lost Loved Ones in the Terrorist Attacks on our country 20 years ago today, you know that we can never move on but that we must continue to move forward. On September 11th, 2001, we lost a total of 2,977 innocent souls. That morning, more than 66,000 people were injured. 2,606 died in the World Trade Center. 125 at the pentagon. 246 innocent people were murdered on the four hijacked planes, 40 of which were on Flight 93, brought down here in a field just outside of shanksville, pennsylvania. As our heros fought to overcome the evil brought to our shores that morning. To date, an additional 2,000 first responders that took part in the immediate rescue and continued Recovery Efforts have died from elrelated illnesses. With every month, we continue to lose more. The Ripple Effect of September 11th is unfathomable. There are still many questions to be answered about the day. Facts to be declassified and released. And justice to be served. So much of September 11th involved pain, loss, and terror. Our lives were never to be the same. And, yet, From The Ashes of the day, stories of heroism and extraordinary courage emerged, providing hope to a world adrift in fear and confusion. First responders running into burning buildings with little regard for their own safety, while citizens inside those buildings refused to run from danger so that they could offer Assistance And Comfort to those less able. Surely knowing that their decision would cost them all but their honor. And here in the skies over southwestern pennsylvania, a group of 40 individuals, mostly strangers, when becoming aware of what was taking place on the ground that morning, found the courage to band together at a moments notice, without regard for political, religious, professional, or cultural differences. Our 40, under extreme conditions, were able to change the course of history, averting the potential of our final image that fateful day being the Capitol Dome collapsed and on fire. The greatest symbol of our democracy in ruins. As the personification of that symbol, our heros embraced the tenants of democracy, that no expression of terrorism will ever extinguish. E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. Our heros united. They formulated a plan when confronted by a great evil. They prayed. They voted. On a course of action. Then they struck. Though in the process, they lost their lives, there is no question that they won the first battle in this current war on terr terrorism. 35 minutes, 9 28 to 10 03 a. M. , from the initial Terrorist Attack on Flight 93 until the moment the plane came down in our sacred ground, a lifetime, a mo moment, forever, yesterday. Here on the ground, first responders aware of what was taking place in new york, at the pentagon, and in the midst of fear and uncertainty, instinctively reacted to the horror that was brought to their rural community in a way that has forever altered their lives. These proud Men And Women of Somerset County and the surrounding region demonstrated everything that is awesome about the united states of america. Terrorism met rural america. Proud, strong, determined. The relationship our families and our nation has forged with this local community is extraordinary. To our extended family here in the Somerset County region, you will forever have our complete gratitude. You have embraced us and the story of our Loved Ones in a selfless, fiercely protective fashion, even as you continue to move forward, carrying the Pain And Anguish thrust upon your community 20 year s ago. Recently, i was listening to former Congressman Trey Gowdy speaking of the ultimate sacrifices made by our Men And Women in uniform. During his remark, i was struck by a common theme i didnt recall highlighted in prior years. It was a theme that i felt strongly was consistent with the story of the heros of Flight 93 and all those we lost on September 11th. I experienced a moment of clarity that brought my understanding of Heroism And Sacrifice to an uncomfortable reality. Moving me to question who we are as a society. What struck such a nerve was not the annual reminder to honor and remember the thousands of lives ripped from the embrace of their families the morning of September 11th, 2001, including the 40 heros of Flight 93. But, rather, the question to be considered is, are we worthy of their sacrifice . Are we worthy . Do we as individuals, communities, and as a Country Conduct ourselves in a manner that would make those that sacrificed so much and fought so hard on September 11th proud of who we have become . Do we share the same willingness to sacrifice for Others in little ways as well as large . To act when necessary for no Other reason than to accomplish a noble goal. And with no Other motivation than to do what is right. Do we cherish the hardearned freedoms that we enjoy . Secured every generation by those willing to stand toetotoe with anyone or any country willing to steal them away. The real question that we must all ask ourselves is have we as a society moved on and left the hardearned lessons of September 11th behind . Have we become desensitized to what really happened that fateful morning . Have we adiminished the courageous actions of these brave Men And Women, these heros we honor today at the Flight 93 national memorial, as well as those in new York City and at the pentagon, by relegating their stories to the History Books . As a country, we shouldnt seek to move on, but, rather, let us dedicate ourselves to moving forward, honoring and remembering the sacrifices made on September 11th. The lessons we learned. Remembering the names, the individuals, and the collective actions of so many that day. Let us be worthy of the selfless sacrifices that were made. Let us remember who we became on september 12th, in the aftermath of September 11th. We saw beyond our differences so that, in yuunity, we could surve the devastation of the day. E pluribus unum. Out of many, we became one. That is the inspiration of September 11th. Whether it was in the air or on the ground that morning, heroism was revealed. History was made, and the course of our lives were changed forever. The path we follow is Up To us. Let us strive to be worthy of those we lost that morning, our 40 heros, our Loved Ones, and the thousands of Other innocent lives extinguished that day and in the aftermath of September 11th. E pluribus unum. Thank you. [ applause ] thank you, gordy. An enduring moment in the days after September 11th occurred when President George W. Bush used a Bull Horn to speak to firefighters at Ground Zero in new york. His words provided sorely needed encouragement to a grieving country. A common thread of Heroism Running through each of the three Attack Sites on September 11th was the devotion to duty shown by our first responders. They made the nation proud then, and they continue to do that now. Thank you to all of our first responders across these great united states, for we are truly grateful for your service. [ applause ] i am greatly honored now to present our next speaker, the 43rd president of the united states of america. George w. Bush. [ applause ] thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Accompanying Him Today is first Lady Laura Bush who occupies a special place in the hearts and families of Flight 93. For on september 17th, mrs. Bush traveled here to offer her condolences and to those of america, to the families and passengers of Flight 93. President bush is fondly remembered by everyone involved in the effort to commemorate the heros of Flight 93 for signing the act that created this national memorial on september 24th, 2002. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the 43rd president of the united states, george w. Bush. [ applause ] thank you. Thank you, all. Thank you very much. Laura and i are honored to be with you. Madame Vice President , Vice President cheney, governor wolf, secretary holland, and distinguished guests, 20 years ago, we all found, in different ways, in different places, but all at the same moment, that our lives would be changed forever. The world was loud with carnage and sirens. Then quiet with missing voices that would never be heard again. These lives remain precious to our country and infinitely precious to many of you. Today, we remember your loss. We share your sorrow, and we honor the Men And Women you have loved so long and so well. For those too young to recall that clear september day, it is hard to describe the mix of feelings we experienced. There was horror at the scale of Destruction And Awe at the Bravery And Kindness that rose to meet it. There was shock at the audacity of Evil And Gratitude for the Heroism And Decency that opposed it. In the sacrifice of the first responders and the mutual aid of strangers, in the solidarity of grief and grace, the actions of an enemy revealed the spirit of the people. We were proud of our wounded nation. In these memories, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 must always have an honored place. Here, the intended targets became the instruments of rescue, and many who are now alive owe a vast, unconscious debt to the defiance displayed in the skies above this field. It would be a mistake to idolize the experience of those terrible events. All that many people could initially see was the brute randomness of death. All that many could feel was unearned suffering. All that many could hear was gods terrible silence. There are many who still struggle with the lonely pain that cuts deep within. And those fateful hours, we learned Other lessons, as well. We saw that americans were vulnerable but not fragile. That they possess a core of strength that survives the worst that life can bring. We learned that bravery is more common than we imagined. Emerging with sudden splendor in the face of death. We vividly felt how every hour with our Loved Ones was a temporary and holy gift. And we found that even the longest days end. Many of us who tried to make spiritual sense of these evens saw there is no explanation for the mix of Providence And Human will that sets the direction of our lives. But comfort can come from a different Sort Of knowledge. After wandering long and lost in the dark, many have found they were actually walking Step By step toward grace. As a nation, our adjustments have been profound. Many americans struggled to understand why an enemy would hate us with such zeal. The security measures incorporated into our lives are both sources of comfort and reminders of our vulnerability. And we have seen growing evidence that the dangers to our country can come not only across borders but from violence that gathers within. There is little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home. But then there is disdainf ful disregard for human life. They depstroy national symbols. It is our continuing duty to confront them. After 9 11, millions of Brave Americans stepped forward and volunteered to serve in the armed forces. The military measures taken over the last 20 years to pursue dangers at their source have led to debate. But one thing is certain, we owe an assurance to all who have fought our nations most recent battles. Let me speak directly to ve veterans and people in uniform. The cause you pursued at the Call Of Duty is the noblest america has to offer. You have shielded your fellow citizens from danger. You have defended the beliefs of your country. And advanced the rights of the downtrodden. You have been the face of Hope And Mercy in dark places. You have been a force for good in the world. Nothing that has followed, nothing, can tarnish your honor or diminish your accomplishments. To you and to the honored dead, our country is forever grateful. [ applause ] in the weeks and months following the 9 11 attacks, i was proud to lead an amazing, resilient, united people. When it comes to the unity of america, those days seem distant from our own. Malign force seems at worse in our common life, that turns every disagreement into an argument, and every argument into a clash of cultures. So much of our politics has become a naked appeal to anger, fear, and resentment. That leaves us worried about our nation and our future together. I come without explanations or solutions. I can only tell you what ive seen. On Americas Day of trial and grief, i saw millions of people instinctively grab for a Neighbors Hand and rally to the cause of one anOther. That is the america i know. [ applause ] at a time when religious bigotry might have flowed freely, i saw americans reject prejudice and embrace people of muslim faith. That is the nation i know. [ applause ] at a time when nativism could have stirred Hay Dtred and viole against people that could have been perceived as outsiders, i saw America Welcome Refugees and immigrants. That is the nation i know. [ applause ] at a time when some viewed the rising generation as individualistic and decadent, i saw young people embrace an ethic of Service And Rise to selfless action. That is the nation i know. [ applause ] this is not mere nostalgia. It is the truest version of ourselves. It is what we have been and what we can be again. 20 years ago, terrorists chose a random group of americans on a routine flight to be Collateral Damage in a spectacular act of terror. The 33 passengers and 7 crew of Flight 93 could have been any group of citizens selected by fate. In a sense, they stood in for us all. The terrorists soon discovered that a random group of americans is an exceptional group of people. Facing an impossible circumstance, they comforted their Loved Ones by phone, braced each Other for action, and defeated the designs of evil. These americans were brave, strong, and united in ways that shocked the terrorists. It should not surprise any of us. This is the nation we know. [ applause ] and whenever we need hope and inspiration, we can look to the skies and remember. God bless. [ applause ] thank you, mr. President , for those beautiful and insightful words. You know, President Bush and mrs. Bush have visited here several times, and we are delighted, of course, to have them with us here today, now that the memorial has been completed. The design for this memorial which so beautifully frames this site is the work of Paul Murdoch architects. A deeply felt thank you to paul and melina murdoch, who are with us today, and to their entire team for Envisioning The Memorial that has literally sculpted the landscape in an unforgettable manner, and which will be visited by millions of people for generations to come. Once again, thank you to paul and melina and their entire team. [ applause ] thank you, sir. How could we not embrace, to my left, the incredible Men And Women of the president s own United States Marine Band . [ applause ] formed in 1798, its americas oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Think about that. Its mission is to perform for the united States President and the marine corps. We are truly privileged to enjoy this national treasure. Ladies and gentlemen, please once again join me in thanking and appreciating the incredible president s own. [ applause ] thank you, colonel. At this time, i am proud to welcome the secretary of the united States Department of the interior, deb holland. The 54th Person entrusted with that responsibility. Were going to continue to monitor this very, very moving ceremony thats going on right now. Dana, lets talk a little bit, first of all, about the, i thought, extremely timely, critically important, very powerful words we heard from the former president of the united states. It was really important that he said what he said. That is the nation we know, referring to the good days as opposed to whats going on right now. It was vintage george w. Bush. Those of us who covered him were sitting here saying, i bet he is going to go there. Kind of trying to teach a lesson to america about what it should be. What it could be and should be. Talking about the fact that, right now, every disagreement is a naked appeal to anger and resentment. And going on and on about what specifically he is standing in shanksville, pennsylvania, where Flight 93 went down, the fact this group of americans could have been it was a random group, but it was an exceptional group of people and it could have been any american. Remember, i was just looking up the date, it was six days after 9 11, then President Push went President Bush went to a mosque, intentionally so, in order to make a point in his words and his actions that what happened and the people who perpetrated those attacks might have been muslim, but they were using islam in vain. That wasnt what the muslim faith is all about. And we kind of took for granted thats what a president should do. We no longer do that. Because of what we have seen over the past five years and, frankly, even more recently with people in both