US President Joe Biden on Sunday paid tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terror attack by al-Qaeda terrorists, taking part in a remembrance event at the Pentagon, and delivered remarks to honour those killed.
“I know for all those of you who lost someone, 21 years is both a lifetime and no time at all,” Biden said at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. “It’s good to remember. These memories help us heal, but they can also open up the hurt and take us back to that moment when the grief was so raw.” Biden in his remarks urged for national unity on the 21st anniversary of the September 11, 2002 attack.
“I hope we’ll remember that in the midst of these dark days, we dug deep. We cared for each other. And we came together,” Biden said, as rain fell on troops standing behind him.
“We honour the police officers and firefighters, the passengers on Flight 93, and the civilians and service members who all leapt into action. And, we honour the young men and women who joined the thousands of American troops who served around the world to protect our nation,” Biden said.
The President talked about a message sent to the American people on September 11, 2001, from Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, who died Thursday, recalling that she “pointedly reminded us, quote, ‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’ Before the speech, Biden participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon, pausing briefly before a ceremonial wreath to touch it and then putting his hand over his heart.
Vice President Kamala Harris appeared at Ground Zero Sunday on the 21st anniversary of the 11 September terror attacks.
Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Enhoff participated in the annual ceremony in New York in lower Manhattan. Former President George W. Bush, who was in office when the attacks took place, spoke at Shanksville.