On the 23rd anniversary of September 11, 2001, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump are all expected to be in Pennsylvania to honor the lives lost that day. The Flight 93 National Memorial in rural Somerset County marks the place where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed after passengers and crew voted to fight back against a group of hijackers. This flight was one of four planes hijacked that morning, with two crashing into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and a third into the Pentagon. It is believed that the terrorists aboard Flight 93 intended to target the U.S. Capitol building.
Forty passengers and crew members lost their lives on Flight 93 that day. Public events at the Flight 93 National Memorial on this anniversary include the observance of the Moment of Remembrance, where the names of passengers and crew members will be read aloud with the ringing of bells. President Biden and Vice President Harris will be participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial in the afternoon. Before arriving in Pennsylvania, they will also be attending a commemoration ceremony at ground zero in New York City. The event is free and open to the public, with attendees encouraged to arrive early for parking and walking to the site.
Former President Trump will also be visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial and participating in a private wreath-laying ceremony. Prior to his visit to Pennsylvania, Trump plans to visit the 9/11 memorial and a fire station in New York City. The wreath-laying ceremony in Pennsylvania is set to take place at 12:45 p.m., with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also expected to attend. President Biden and Vice President Harris are expected to arrive in Johnstown, Pa. around 11:30 this morning, with the event set to be a somber and respectful commemoration of the lives lost on that tragic day in 2001.
In a statement, President Biden emphasized the courage and heroism of the Flight 93 passengers who confronted terror with absolute courage, ultimately saving more American lives. Vice President Harris spoke about reflecting on what binds us together as Americans and the pride of being an American. The two are also expected to travel to Washington, D.C. for a similar ceremony at the Pentagon following the events in Pennsylvania. The 23rd anniversary observance is a day of remembrance and reflection, with leaders coming together to honor the memory of those who perished in the attacks on September 11, 2001.
The events at the Flight 93 National Memorial, as well as the ceremonies in New York City and Washington, D.C., serve as a testament to the resiliency and unity of the American people in the face of tragedy. President Biden, Vice President Harris, and former President Trump will pay their respects to the lives lost and the heroism displayed on that fateful day. As the nation remembers and honors the victims of September 11, 2001, the message of unity and American pride continues to resonate, reminding us of the strength and courage that unites us as a nation.
