[ad_1]
WASHINGTON – President Trump paid tribute Tuesday to passengers and crew members who stormed the cockpit of a hijacked plane and foiled the terrorists in the sky over Pennsylvania. September 11, 2001, swearing to follow their world example.
On his first trip to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as President, Mr. Trump held a ceremony marking the 17th anniversary of the terrorist attacks honoring the heroes who shot down United Airlines Flight 93 in an unpopulated field. a weapon against the national capital.
"We remember when America fought back," Trump said in a televised address at the 93 National Flight Memorial at the scene of the crash, which killed 40 passengers and crew. Referring to those on board who got up that day in an effort to take over the plane, he said, "They boarded planes as strangers and they got into the plane. Eternity related as true heroes.
Ceremonies also took place Tuesday in New York, where two hijacked planes hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, where another plane was used to attack the US Army headquarters. Vice President Mike Pence and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis led the commemoration at the Pentagon. "The evil that struck America 17 years ago still persists in our world," warned Mr. Pence.
In New York, police gathered in Midtown Midtown, where flags were lowered half-way and the names of missing colleagues rushed into buildings to save lives. "Never miss a chance to let those who are dearest know your ♥ for them," the speaker says on his Twitter feed.
The birthday was not without political conflict. In a Washington Post article, Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and Mr. Trump's scathing critic, wrote that the president "did more damage to the American dream than any foreign foe could ever ".
This provoked an angry reaction from Donald Trump Jr., the president's son. "Joe, you owe an apology to the more than 3,000 families who lost loved ones on this tragic day" he wrote on Twitter. "The injection of politics today is shameful and only shows how much you have become indifferent and disturbed."
Mr. Scarborough regretted his choice of words. "On September 11, I will read the headlines and think about whether I could have said the same thing in a less shocking way for Trump supporters on September 11" he wrote, responding to other critics.
Mr. Trump was at Trump Tower on the day of the attacks, not far from the World Trade Center. During an interview that day, he was asked what he would do if he was president and said that he would take "a hard line". He added, wrongly, that one of his buildings was the second largest downtown. New York after the twin towers. "Now it's the biggest," he said, although it was not really true.
During his presidential campaign, Trump said that "thousands and thousands of people were applauding" in the Muslim communities of Jersey City when the World Trade Center collapsed. has been largely debunked.
While on his way to Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Trump praised Rudolph W. Giuliani, who was mayor of New York during the attacks and is now serving as a personal attorney. "Rudy Giuliani did an excellent job as mayor of New York during the period of September 11" Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. "His leadership, bravery and talent must never be forgotten. Rudy is a real warrior!
Arriving at John Murtha Johnstown Airport-Cambria County, Mr. Trump welcomed supporters with a double hand pump, a picture captured by news photographers and shared on social media, where he drew criticism of the president as less solemn.
At the ceremony, however, he seemed unassuming and understated while a Marine quintet was playing "America the Beautiful" and the national anthem. A bell rang for each of the 40 victims and their names were read aloud, sometimes by close relatives. In one case, four children too young to be alive that day mentioned the grandfather's name that they had obviously never had the opportunity to meet.
The event took place two days after the dedication of a 93-foot concrete and steel tower that will ring with wind chimes, the final phase of the memorial. Each carillon, representing each of the dead, generates different sounds, as unique as those they honor.
Mr. Trump condemned "radical Islamic terrorism" and "evil men committed to terror and conquest" who took Flight 93.
"We will remember that free people are never at the mercy of evil because our destiny is always in our hands," said Trump. "The future of America is not written by our enemies. The future of America is written by our heroes.
Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, praised the unit and the diversity of passengers on the plane that day. "They were able to meet in minutes, not in 40 people, but in a unified force," said Felt, whose brother, Edward Felt, died on the plane. "They chose to stay together and fight as a single group."
[ad_2]
Source link
