USA’s current and former leaders united this morning to celebrate the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were present at the ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial Museum on Saturday (September 11) in New York City.
Joining him in the front row at the ceremony were former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his partner Diana Taylor, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
There was six moments of silence during the ceremony to mark the following: when each tower at the World Trader Center was hit, when each tower collapsed, when the Pentagon was attacked, and the crash of Flight 93.
Barack wrote a touching letter on his Instagram this morning.
Barack wrote a touching letter on his Instagram this morning.
Keep scrolling to read Barack Obama’s tribute on 9/11…
“Today we honor the nearly 3,000 men, women, and children who died on September 11, 2001, and even more who lost their lives in service to our country in the two decades since. We reaffirm our commitment to keep a sacred trust with their families — including the children who lost parents, and who have demonstrated such extraordinary resilience. But this anniversary is also about reflecting on what we’ve learned in the 20 years since that awful morning.
“That list of lessons is long and growing. But one thing that became clear on 9/11 — and has been clear ever since — is that America has always been home to heroes who run towards danger in order to do what is right.
“For Michelle and me, the enduring image of that day is not simply falling towers or smoldering wreckage. It’s the firefighters running up the stairs as others were running down. The passengers deciding to storm a cockpit, knowing it could be their final act. The volunteers showing up at recruiters’ offices across the country in the days that followed, willing to put their lives on the line.
“Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen the same courage and selflessness on display again and again. We saw it a decade ago when, after years of persistence, our military brought justice to Osama bin Laden. And we’re seeing it today — in the doctors and nurses, bone tired, doing what they can to save lives; the servicemembers, some of whom weren’t even born 20 years ago, putting themselves at risk to save Americans and help refugees find a better life; the first responders battling roaring fires and rising waters to bring families to safety. They represent what is best in America, and what can and should bring us together.
“9/11 reminded us how so many Americans give of themselves in extraordinary ways — not just in moments of great crisis, but every single day. Let’s never forget that, and let’s never take them for granted. #NeverForget911.”