Biden commemorates 9/11 anniversary with stops at all three attack sites

President Joe Biden will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States on Saturday by visiting each of the sites where hijacked planes crashed in 2001, seeking to honor the victims of the devastating assault.

Biden will begin the day in New York City, where he will attend a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. EDT at the site where the World Trade Center Twin Towers once stood before planes hit the two buildings and collapsed them.

Then it will travel to Shanksville, Pa., Where United Flight 93 crashed into a field after passengers passed the hijackers and prevented another target from being hit.

Finally, Biden will return to the Washington area to visit the Pentagon, the symbol of US military might that was pierced by another of the planes that were used as missiles that day.

The anniversary comes shortly after the end of the US-led war in Afghanistan, launched some 20 years ago to root out al-Qaeda, which carried out the September 11 attacks.

Biden’s withdrawal from U.S. troops in August, months after a deadline set by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, and the resulting rapid fall of the country to the Taliban drew criticism from members of both political parties.

Biden is not expected to speak at any of the sites, but he posted a video on Friday to express his condolences to those close to the victims and to underline the national unity that resulted, at least initially, after 9/11.

“It’s so difficult. Whether it’s the first year or the 20th, the kids grew up without parents and the parents suffered without kids,” Biden said.

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The president noted the heroism observed in the days following the attacks.

“We also saw something too rare: a real sense of national unity,” Biden said.

Biden, a Democrat, pledged to build such unity after coming to power earlier this year, but the country remains deeply divided politically.

US Presidents often visit one of the three attack sites on the anniversary of 9/11, but it is unusual to visit all three on the same day.

“The president felt it was important to visit each of these three sites to commemorate the lives lost, the sacrifices made on a day that touched millions of people across the country, but certainly many in these communities,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. Friday.

Biden is comfortable in the role of chief comforter after suffering tragic family losses himself.

“No matter how much time has passed, and these commemorations bring everything back painfully, like you just heard the news a few seconds ago. And so on this day, Jill and I hold you tight in our hearts and we send our love to you, ”he said in the video remarks, referring to his wife, Jill Biden.

Last month, many families of 9/11 victims asked Biden to skip the 20-year commemorative events unless he declassified documents they say will show Saudi leaders supported the attacks. Last week, the president ordered the Justice Department to review documents from the FBI’s investigation into the attacks for declassification and publication.