Manhattan with Wolf Blitzer at the pentagon, Paula Reed In Shanksville, pennsylvania where Flight 93 went down. At the memorial, two reflecting pools represent the footprints of the Twin Towers, North And South towers, surrounded by names of the victims of the 9 11 attacks. And also the 1993 World Trade Center bomb. Families of the heroes lost, elected leaders from across the country, including four u. S. President s past and present attending ceremonies in New York, washington and pennsylvania today. President biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive In Shanksville any moment, will lay a wreath at the Flight 93 memorial, there they are moments ago getting off in johnstown, pennsylvania. We heard from george w. Bush who was president on 9 11. Vice president Kamala Harris spoke as well. U. S. Military leaders led the ceremony early this morning at the pentagon which was also struck, honoring the lives lost, sacrifice of so many families not only that day but in the 20 years that followed in the war on terror, most recently 13 marines at the kabul airport. Lets go to Laura Jarrett now. Shes in lower manhattan. Tell me about the scene. Tell me what you saw. Reporter Jake, as we have been listening and watching, it has been an emotional morning at ground zero. So many people coming here to pay tearful tribute in so many cases to Loved Ones lost 20 years ago today. It is a reminder this wasnt just a national tragedy, Jake, it was a deeply personal one for so many of these Family Members as weve heard. Fo fathers, sisters, mothers, brothers, nephews, talk about their Loved Ones, bring them back to life. Talk about what their laugh sounded like, what their personalities were like, what their lives were like while they were living here on earth. As i mentioned, just so much emotion here in the day, even from children, grandchildren that never met people they were grieving, yet heard so much about these people for the last 20 years. Also been a story of immense heroic actions and bravery in the face of the unthinkable. Heard from a father talk about his daughter that was a Flight Attendant on one of the flights that hit the towers. We heard from Family Members about everyday grief they have been facing, grief they carry with them as if it was so fresh, as if they just received the news. As you mentioned, President Biden was in attendance with a mows of other dignitaries. The centerpiece of the day is about the families, what they lost. Were some four hours into the service, it is ongoing here. Still reading the names, a temporal reminder of the loss of nearly 3,000 people, Jake. Laura jarrett, thanks so much. Paula reed is live In Shanksville, pennsylvania, not far from pittsburgh, pennsylvania, western part of the state where President Biden has just arrived. Paula, tell us what youve seen. Reporter really an incredible tribute here today at the national memorial to Flight 93. Flight 93 was one of the four commercial airliners hijacked on 9 11 but didnt reach the intended target, believed to be the u. S. Capitol, because the crew members banded together and stormed the cockpit. Instead of crashing in washington, d. C. , the flight crashed here in a field in rural pennsylvania, and it is that unity thats the theme today. Vice president Kamala Harris and former president george w. Bush both gave remarks in tribute to lives lost. I think it will be the former President S remarks that people are going to be talking about. He touched on this idea of Unity And Unity that he saw when he was leading the country on the days following 9 11. He said he believes the threat of domestic terror, domestic extremism is just as significant as any foreign extremist threat, an apparent reference to the January 6th insurrection. Vice president Kamala Harris seized on the theme of unity, how it was really embodied by collective action of those aboard Flight 93. As you may or may not see behind me, all these chairs are empty. Thats because at the conclusion of this memorial, they opened a ceremonial gate for Family Members and friends of those lost to visit the crash site. Thats so poignant. It is Family Members and Friends Fighting to get this memorial. Some of them believe what happened In Shanksville is often forgotten in the larger conversation about 9 11, that most attention is on the World Trade Center or pentagon. They have been fighting for years to create this memorial, and it is finally finished, and it is quite remarkable. National Park Service overseas this center. You can come here and learn more about sacrifices made and arguably lives that were saved that day. President biden has just arrived. He is not expected to give remarks but is expected to lay a wreath. It is notable, the only former president we will hear from today is george w. Bush, who was leading the country on 9 11 and his Remarks Today incredibly poignant. A lot of people will be talking about them in days to come. Paula reed In Shanksville. Talk about the comments from former President Bush In Shanksville, he talked about the threat to this country is not just from abroad, it is also from within. 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 theres disdainful pluralism, in the disregard for human life, in the determination to defile national symbols. They are children of the same foul spirit and it is our continuing duty to confront them. Their determination to defile national symbols former President Bush said. Bring in garrett graph, author of the only plane in the sky oral history of 9 11. And juliette kayyem. Let me start with you. I checked with Somebody Close to the former president. Am i reading this right, he talks about defiling national symbols, is he talking about the January 6th mag a terrorists . He said not exclusively but definitely. Definitely. It is a remarkable moment for him to provide the Connective Tissue of 20 years. We cant forget Hate And Hatred of Pluralism And Diversity the u. S. Represents is a Connective Tissue from 9 11 to 1 6. Those of us in counterterrorism believe that to be true. The international divide doesnt apply. Terrorists learn tactics from Each Other, figure out how to expose vulnerabilities. I also took President Bush to tell us a warning, maybe a warning he didnt heed before 9 11. People were telling President Bush that the Red Lights were going off and in some ways if we underestimated Al Qaeda on september 10th, do not underestimate this threat in america right now. Thats essentially the former president of the United States saying about him and a former president from his party. To be clear, we are not equating January 6th with 9 11. Theyre remarkably different events, but the former president , garrett, was clearly saying that there is a domestic Terrorist Threat from within that might not have the same ideology, white supremacists or far right extremists arent the same as Al Qaeda or isis, but they dont like pluralism, they want to attack national symbols. And i think it is impossible to disentangle the ideology of January 6th from the political forces unleashed inside the United States after 9 11. As a result. That the antimuslim, antiimmigrant nativist nationalist politics we have seen come to the fore of politics. Theyre a direct result of the political forces that are unleashed by the u. S. Response to 9 11. And i actually agree with President Bush that i think theres a straight line that you can draw from the u. S. Response to 9 11 to the insurrection on January 6th. While were on the subject of domestic terrorism, the secretary of defense, lloyd austin, said something to wolf that i dont think was entirely accurate. Paraphrasing, said something like since 9 11, the United States has not been attacked, especially not from that region, meaning afghanistan or Saudi Arabia i suppose because thats where most of the hijackers came from, in the last 20 years, thats not an accident. Thats not inaccurate. If he wants to say no major attack, no attack of that size, nothing directed by osama bin laden, he can qualify it. We have seen any number of Terrorist Attacks inspired by Al Qaeda and isis. Exactly. I think it is important that we make sure people understand the goal after 9 11, Counterterrorism Goal was stopping or thwarting, preventing, delaying Terrorist Attack of the magnitude of september 11, organized by Al Qaeda. Thats the reason we went into afghanistan. That got muted over time as we know in the United States, and so did the Terror Threat from Al Qaeda to isis to any number of what we would call Lone Wolf threats. So were still vulnerable and we have always been vulnerable. The way we need to think about the Terror Threat now is how do you minimize risk so we dont face the same Death And Destruction we saw September 11th. In that regard, Counterterrorism Efforts have been successful. I understand what the secretary meant, but it is important to say we still live with a threat and we need to keep up our defenses and continue with the intelligence and other efforts especially because of whats happening in afghanistan where we will not have the same capabilities in parts of the world where Al Qaeda and isis are. The reason we thought this was important to discuss, because what were talking about here is not just a group of violent extremists with Al Qaeda or isis, it is an ideology. It is an ideology. If one thinks this kindly soldier cannot possibly be inspired by Al Qaeda and then you miss the signals, then he kills a number of soldiers at fort hood, or the saudi we are letting into the country shoots a Bunch Of Americans at a pensacola air base, both of those were Al Qaeda inspired, not to mention isis. This is part of the way that Al Qaeda and the threat from Al Qaeda and its adherence and franchises have evolved since 9 11, Al Qaeda has learned subsequent generations of terrorists learned that you dont need to dispatch terrorists to the United States to carry out plots. When we looked at these plots, they are people who are by and large radicalized at home inside the United States, people already with u. S. Passports or green cards inside the United States. And thats a really important shift in the way that Al Qaeda operates and sort of the subsequent generations of Al Qaeda operate. And isis with the San Bernardino shooter, Pulse Nightclub shooters. They do not train. It is a devious ideology, whether you talk white extremists, nationalists, racist politics or islamists, these are ideologies. And what animates them is displacement. Thats what animates Al Qaeda and isis. The Sort F insurrectionists, that sense that youre losing something, that justifies violence. Tree of life, El Paso shooter, ideologies to look out for. Coming up next, President Biden will lay a wreath In Shanksville to honor heroes who were passengers and crew on that flight. And we hear from two Government Officials inside the white House And Congress on 9 11, 2001. This is cnn special live coverage. Stay with us. Subway® has so much new it didnt fit in our last ad. Like the new artisan italian and hearty multigrain bread. Its the eat fresh refresh™ at subway®. Its so much new theres no time for serena wait, what . sorry, we dont even have time to say they were created by World Class bakers oh, guess we did seriously . my bad. When i get a migraine, i shut out the world. But with nurtec odt thats all behind me now. Nurtec is the first and only option proven to treat and prevent migraines with one medication. Onederful. One quick dissolve tablet can start fast and last. Dont take if allergic to nurtec. The most common Side Effects were nausea, stomach pain, and indigestion. 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With app, cloud and anywhere workspace solutions, vmware helps companies navigate change. Faster. Vmware. Welcome change. Few people know what it is like to be a Government Official during a major Terror Attack, let alone the biggest in u. S. History. Our next two guests know that feeling all too well as they lived firsthand the chaos that consumed the u. S. Capitol that fateful day. Joining us, former congresswoman from california jane harman, and Anita Mcbride, former Chief Of Staff to then First Lady laura bush. Thanks to you both for joining us. I want to ask you both this question. First to you, how are you feeling this morning, how are you feeling now, exactly 20 years after the attack . Feeling sad. Your coverage especially right now of the Shanksville Piece which directly effected the fact that the capitol wasnt hit, it was headed toward it that morning, is sobering. I am thinking about future for my kids and grandkids. Im hoping we learned some lessons, i think we have. I think we made the country safer in large terms. But were still vulnerable from within, something that george w. Bush just said and in some Ways Tribalism that we were very inefficient and ineffective confronting in afghanistan has hit america, too. We are all fighting Each Other. That was not present on 9 11. Anita, let me remind viewers you were there at the White House when the Terror Attack happened. Tell us about that day, what it was like and what youre going through today. Yeah. Like jane, im feeling very sad, too. Always leading up to 9 11 it is emotional time, getting through the day and watching all of the ceremonies honoring the dead and surviving families at all of the sites, but also what has unfolded in afghanistan over the last two weeks. And it really does come crashing down on all of us just how vulnerable we still are, but that warning at the White House started at a relatively calm day. The president was traveling. He was in florida doing an event for pending legislation in congress on no child left behind while bush was at the capitol to do a briefing to senator Kennedys Committee on education reform. But what unfolded in a very short time, the Vice President being hustled to the bunker, staff told to take off shoes and run for their lives, chaos of the departure out of the White House was stunning and was unprecedented in history. Jane, you were a key member of the house Intelligence Committee. You have written you were part of a team that warned at the time of a potential Terror Attack. What was going through your mind that day . Juliette kayyem in an earlier segment on your broadcast and i were members of the national commission on terrorism. Im the only one who was out of congress first, then back in congress while that happened, and we predicted a major attack on u. S. Soil, just the day before, 9 10, i had lunch with the chairman of the committee and lamenting the fact no one was paying attention. We had congressional committees and other public events to get people to focus on this thing. On that morning just to amplify what anita was saying, i was walking toward the dome of the capitol because thats where the Intelligence Committee rooms were. I was cochair of a special subcommittee on terrorism with saxby chambliss b, we were goin to meet in the dome. If the Plane Hadnt gone down In Shanksville, most people think by this time or close enough would have hit the dome of the capitol. We had no Evacuation Plan in congress, at least 150 members were milling in front of the capitol once it was closed. By the way, that outraged me. I thought how can we close the capitol of the United States when we members take an oath to provide the common defense. But it was closed for our safety and there we were. There would have been a major couldnt knew the of Government Issue if the plane hit the capitol, half the House And Senate would have been eliminated. And we still dont have adequate measures. Still dont have to make sure we dont have that insurrection. How did the attacks change then president george w. Bush . Well, it defined his presidency from that day forward. Every president takes an oath to preserve the constitution, protect the security and people of the United States. You heard in his Words Today through the shock and the horror and the grief, there was resolve of the nation to pick ourselves up from this wounded state and to defend our liberty, to defend our way of life. I love that he gave the shoutout to veterans that joined voluntary service to the nation at that time, to defend our principles. They were a force for good because the country is a force for good. Thats what the Bush Administration and Bush Doctrine as you know because you covered it for eight years and jane knows because she was defender of our liberty and our patriotism and tools that needed to be put in place to protect the country. And thats what our eight years were. It was an opportunity to talk to a lot of my colleagues over a period of a few months, 50 people from Cabinet Officers to interns in the White House that day, then came back the next day. An article for white House History Journal or White House historical association to document what it was like to be there, where they went, and coming back, and what the work was like from September 12th forward. Everybody remembers exactly what was going on. Quickly, jane. Go ahead. Just to say, the mantra of the time was america is under attack. We werent finger pointing. Anita makes a good point. At the end of that horrible day, members of congress that were there once the capitol reopened stood on the steps, held hands, didnt matter whether we were standing next to someone of the same party or not and sang god bless america. A moment of unity. I salute George Bush for hailing that, Anita Mcbride played a crucial role, too. Lets hope we get that feeling of unity back. Thank you to you both. And to viewers, thanks very much for joining me at the pentagon for Special Coverage of this very solemn day. Well go back to Jake in New York next and hear from one of the people that wrote Rudy Giulianis speeches and eulogies after 9 11. This is cnn Special Coverage. Michael anthony turner. Dennis gerard taramino, injure. Kenneth tarantino. I dont know. laughs breyers. 100 grade a milk and cream, and loaded with delicious cookie pieces. Better starts with breyers. Thats President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walking in a field outside shanksville, pennsylvania. Shanksville, of course, famously where Flight 93 went down. Passengers and crew members, taking control from the terrorists on 9 11. A plane almost certainly intended to crash into the u. S. Capitol, killing an unknown number of people. Those passengers gave their lives so that others might live. Jeff zeleny joins us from the White House. Jeff, obviously President Biden is from pennsylvania, he is from scranton. And it was important for him to be in this field today, the citizens of Shanksville And Family members of those lost on Flight 93 sometimes feel as though they are forgotten. Without a question, Jake. Simply, shanksville is out of the way. It is a rural location. As you said, so critical to the tragic story of September 11th which would have been almost certainly far more tragic. Thats what the terrorists intended, was for that plane to come here to the nations capitol. Likely the u. S. Capitol as the 9 11 report said, but possibly also here at the White House. It was unclear what the actual target was. Most think it was the u. S. Capitol where the Death Toll would have been much higher. We have seen President Biden visit shanksville several times, but the first time now as president. You can see him walking through The Field, walking toward the rock there at the Flight 93 memorial which is a national park. So this is familiar ground to him. We are told hes going to be laying a wreath in memory of one passenger in particular on the flight who called his wife as they were getting ready to make their attack, the passengers were getting ready to push back against the terrorists. He will be laying a wreath there. He is walking with his wife, dr. Jill biden. He is also coming back to washington and going to the pentagon, so visiting all three spots on this day. Jake, we should point out Joe Biden was a long time senator at this. 20 years ago, just became chairman of the foreign Relations Committee earlier that certificate. He had a Military Line installed in his delaware home. He started getting secure briefings. He spoke with President Bush on that day, urging him to come back to washington. Joe biden at the time, senator, played a key role in the beginning of the war on terrorism. He supported the war, the fight against afghanistan and iraq, and became one of the longest, loudest critics. Jake, the Book End here is impossible to script, that President Biden would be the Commander In Chief to end americas longest war in a controversial way and now he was there at the beginning. Lets pause on that a moment and watch what were watching there in The Field as President Biden as every leader has to do, play the role of comforter in chief, consoler. Thats certainly what he is doing. It was important to go to shanksville. We saw him talk about unity. The words of unity from former president george w. Bush also echoing loudly there. The two didnt speak today as far as we know but remarkable how similar their messages were. All right, jeff zeleny, thanks so much. Were taking in some of the sounds and silence from Shanks Vil Ville and that field where so many gave their lives to protect other americans. That plane was intended it is now believed for the u. S. Capitol. Garrett graph, youre with me. One of the things about the story of shanksville, it is not just a story of heroism and not just a forgotten part of the story, i mean, people of pennsylvania and families of the survivors, i mean, families of those who perished on Flight 93 often feel as though because this took place in a rural area of pennsylvania, not in the Media Center of washington, d. C. Or new York City, it doesnt get the same attention. The story of what happened In Shanksville doesnt end on september 11, 2001. Some ways it begins. This is where you see a disconnect in the way we mem memorialize it. You talk of it as shanksville. Thats not where it crashed. It struck in stone ee creek township, north of shanksville. This is the story of all of Somerset County, all of the small communities called together to respond to that crash out of nowhere. Remember, in New York, they strike one of the best prepared Fire Departments in the country. Arlington, one of the best prepared Fire Departments of the country. Stoney creek township, volunteer responders pull up. One of the first trucks to arrive to The Field that morning is actually an Uncle And Nephew together, a family responding from their own homes and this is a story we see of this community really wondering why they have been pushed to the fore of this national story. One of the most amazing interviews i had of someone responding to 9 11 was sergeant neese miller, one of the small communities in Somerset County. Ends up there a few minutes after the crash. Spends her morning looking at the sky, terrified, looking for more planes coming to attack this field in pennsylvania because all she knows during the 10 00 a. M. Hour of tuesday, september 11, two planes struck the World Trade Center, a third hit the pentagon, a fourth hit this field. She assumes theres some secret Government Facility under this field that she doesnt know about, that this must be one of the most important targets in the entire country. So she assumes like the Twin Towers there are more hijacked planes coming. You talk about the fear, trauma of the day, it makes an incredible amount of sense. If you only know what she knows during the 10 00 a. M. Hour, you think that this field, this abandoned Coal Mine in Somerset County is one of the most important places in the world. Makes perfect sense, doesnt sound crazy, especially if you know so little as so many of us did. Had no idea where it was coming from, what was next. Kaitlan collins joins me to talk about the President S trip to the memorial. This memorial is decades in the making, but i understand going there was very important to President Biden and First Lady biden. It is not the first time theyve been there. It is not. It is somewhere we have seen President Biden speak before, commemorating the 9 11 attacks, of course before he was actually the Commander In Chief, Jake. When we talk to aides at the White House about what exactly his plan was for 9 11, how he was going to mark the 20th Anniversary of the attacks, they talked about desire to go to all three of them. I think one thing thats clear, youre not hearing the president deliver a set of Remarks Today. The White House said because they wanted to let each of these events speak for themselves, let the Moment And Focus be on those lives that we lost and families of the victims today, so thats why youre not hearing from President Biden himself today. He did record a video the White House released last night. In that video he tried to take it as a bigger picture of 9 11, Jake, talk about what he thinks the country is lacking, which is what we heard from the brother of one of the victims on Flight 93, talking about the sacrifices they made, how incredible they were. Big sacrifices, small sacrifices. Asking kind of this thought provoking question earlier where he said are we worth it, do we deserve that sacrifice they made. I think in President Bidens speech, he was going back to a bigger point, talking about lack of unity in the country and thats on Display Today and makes you remember what kind of unity you saw on September 11th when the attacks first happened. And were expecting President Biden to next head to the pentagon to the memorial there. Walk us through what we expect him to do there. Theyll finish with this ceremony In Shanksville, the president will make his way to the pentagon where we just left. Theyre preparing it for his arrival now. The Vice President will be there as well. Youll see the president and the First Lady, theyll do a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the pentagon for lives that were lost there. You will see the president make Full Circle of this site of the attacks. Starting in New York, making it to shanksville, then going to the pentagon. We were talking about where he was on that day. He was here in washington as chairman of the senate foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill trying to go to his senate office. Talking about how he, like so many other people, had that experience of what happened that day and what it looked like for him trying to restore normalcy, trying to have a sense of calm and collectedness. Anything but we were feeling in the moment as garrett was talking about, what the woman in pennsylvania felt, this fear of the unknown, given the unbelievable had just happened. I think thats really what youve seen in this message from President Biden today, seeing him there earlier in New York, standing alongside several former President S as they were marking this moment because it is something that of course has touched every presidency since george w. Bush. It is something that will touch every other presidency that follows it. But of course, President Biden in a significant way given the way the troop levels happened in afghanistan, his need to pull troops out of there is really something that he wanted to happen by this anniversary, that was his initial deadline set in may for withdrawal. I think you see the symbolism in that as well. Kaitlan collins, thanks so much. One of Rudy Giulianis former Speech Writers that was there on 9 11 will join us to discuss. And Allen Jackson, country star, reflecting on the timeless song after the attacks that mentions cnn, incidentally. Stay with us. man eye contact. Elbow pump. Very nice, andrew. Very nice. Good job. 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Growing up in a little red house, on the edge of a forest in norway, there were three things my family encouraged kindness, honesty and hard work. Over time, ive come to add a fourth be curious. Be curious about the world around us, and then go. Go with an open heart, and you will find inspiration anew. Viking. Exploring the world in comfort. The tempurpedic breeze makes sleep feel cool. Because the tempurbreeze transfers heat away from your body. So you feel cool, Night After night. Dont miss our best offer of the year, with savings up to 700 on adjustable mattress sets. 20 years ago today, Everyday Americans became heroes, never to be forgotten. John avalon joins us with more, senior political analyst. Thats right, Jake. 341 new York City firefighters, 23 new York City police officers, 37 Port Authority Police officers, 3 court officers, 2 ems workers. Numbers alone cannot do them justice. On september 11, 2001, i was 28 years old, serving as Mayor Rudy Giulianis chief speech writer. On my desk was a list of every first responder that died in the line of duty that day. Their names filled 47 pages. The heroes of 9 11, the people going up the stairs into the fire as other people were trying to get out. City government mobilized, four of us in our small office tried to do them justice and say thank you on behalf of the city as families tried to assimilate unimaginable loss in their lives. Giuliani was a republican in a democratic city, effective, controversial, cutting crime and welfare in half, he prepared to leave office after eight years. He was spontaneously applauded into the streets, transformed into americas mayor. Four days after the attack, the first funeral was held for father michael judge, beloved Fire Department Chaplain killed by debris as he administered last rights to a fallen firefighter. We lost so many of New Yorks bravest that day, including 60 off duty firefighters that rushed to the towers when they heard of the attack. We lost two Special Operations ray downy, he led the Recovery Mission after the first bombing of World Trade Center in 1993, and Femas Rescue Effort after the Terror Attack in Oklahoma City two years later. His sons also in fdny spent the better part of the next month digging through ground zero, looking for their father. We lost terence hatten, leader of rescue one that lost ten more that day. He was married less than four years before at gracie mansion. Their Daughter Terry was born five months after her fathers death. Myron smith first to report a plane smashed into the towers. Hours later, this mother of a twoyearold, wife of a police officer, became the first Female Nypd officer killed in the line of duty. A firefighter survived the attacks in beirut, served 12 years with nypd before joining the fire department. Then there was 71yearold first Deputy Fire Commissioner bill feeand, oldest firefighter to die in the line of duty. These are a handful of heroes lost on 9 11. Services were held in Chap Else and synagogues, Fire Houses and ka thee drals, ceremonies that symbolized a nation united in grief and resolve. Thousands of firefighters lined the street. Everyone fell silent as black limousines carrying the family arrived. Then the faint sound of Bag Pipes and Drum Rolls grew louder as they marched closer, announcing approach of an engine truck, inside the service prayers were read, eulogies, followed by remarks of the mayor, offering the assurance the example of their courage would live onto inspire others, consistent with the biblical Verse John 15 13. Greater love has no man than this than a man that laid down his life for his friends. After the final blessing, the coffin was carried out, lifted on the waiting Fire Truck. A thousand firefighters snapped into salute. The Emerald Society Band began to march down 5th avenue, playing amazing Grace America the beautiful and going home. As the Fire Truck followed, with a sign on back read we will never forget. John, such a potent, beautiful memory and memorializing that you shared. It is tough to explain to people who dont remember 9 11 just how effective Rudy Giuliani was that day as somebody who tried to reassure the country, served as a leader, especially at a time when President Bush was in the air and out of communique for much of that day. Is that legacy, do you think, for Rudy Giuliani gone, given his political behavior the last five years . I dont think it is gone. I think people should be defined by the totality of their career and his leadership on that day as well as his leadership as mayor over the previous years i think should be put in context. The last chapter has been a disgrace. He squandered much of his Legacy And Goodwill and leadership he earned across partisan lines, but at the end of the day, i dont think he should be defined entirely by the recent chapter. History will primarily remember his leadership on the greatest Terror Attack in our Nations History and his leadership in the days and weeks and months after the fact. I do believe that. John avalon, thank you so much. The song where were you, written by Country Music Star Allen Jackson and his performance at the Country Music awards became a Union Finding Moment in days after 9 11 when so much of the country was looking for unifying moments and reassurance. He spoke about reflections then and now. Im just a singer of simple songs im not a real political man i watch cnn but im not sure i can tell you the difference in Iraq And Iran i know jesus and i talked to god and i remember this from when i was young faith, Hope And Love are some good things he gave us and the greatest is love. It makes me feel really loved inside to know that that song and at the same time i feel a little bit surprised that it has lasted all these years. I mean, first i didnt think i would record it, then didnt think we would want to release. First, i didnt think i had to write a song about the event, didnt feel right about it, and they came out of nowhere. And it went on to be an anthem for it for years. Now it has grown into just its own song outside of 9 11, song about faith, hope, and love. And i see that in the crowds now. A lot of my fans, younger fans were hardly around when 9 11 happened, but they connected with that song and it is one of the highlights of the show now. It is just amazing that it has outlived where it began. So Cant Help but make me feel proud that something like that helped people through that hard time in the beginning and still has the lasting effect outside it. On 9 11, the former president , george w. Bush, was at that moment of the attacks in a florida classroom, reading to school children. Now 20 years later, cnn caught up with those children in a new special report. Victor blackwell spoke to some of the kids, now adults, about their memories. This is the perspective you likely havent heard in the last 20 years since the attacks of 9 11. These are the students who were with President Bush in sarasota when Andy Card walked up and whispered in his Ear America was under attack. The students are now 27 years old. There are a lot of surprises in this special. They express some guilt they felt but also some gratitude for the second Grade Teacher who held them together the last two decades. A lot of people say you know, you guys looked so good, so well mannered, that was every day. Miss stevens drove a tight ship. It wasnt for the president , that was every day. What does that Comma Mean . Lets read that sentence again. We were good at it. Wasnt nothing to be nervous about. That was not a performance . No. They did the work and they were in front of the president and they were holding their own. It was authentic and what you saw were my babies doing what we did every single day. And i felt like a proud momma. What was your impression of mrs. Daniels class . They were loving him. If you know the president , you would know by the way he smiled how much fun he was having with the kids and reading to them. So it was going really well until it wasnt. Cnn special report, Front Row to history. The 9 11 classroom Airs Tonight at 7 00 p. M. Eastern only on cnn. Right after that, join us for a special tribute to families of september 11. Shine a light begins at 8 00 p. M. Eastern. Thank you so much for joining us on this somber day, a reflection honoring lives lost, heroes born, families forever changed by the events of that horrible day 20 years ago. September 11, 2001. I am Jake tapper, live in New York. Special coverage continues next. 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Tolling bells, moments of Silence Marking times the planes hit the Two Towers and when each fell. And at the pentagon, a large