WASHINGTON, D.C. – Unlike past presidents, Joe Biden will be observing the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 at an Alaska military base instead of the traditional New York City, Virginia or Pennsylvania events.
According to reports, the White House announced that Biden will stop in Alaska for the 9/11 observance at Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on his way back to Washington after attending a summit in New Delhi with other world leaders.
He also plans to visit Vietnam on September 10th.
First Lady Jill Biden will lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon and Vice President Kamala Harris will participate in the annual commemoration at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan.
The White House has not announced who will be representing the administration in Shanksville, located about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh.
Shanksville is the site of the crash of United Airlines Flight 93, one of the four hijacked planes used in the 9/11 terrorist attacks during which nearly 3,000 people died.
Flight 93 was supposed to be flown into the U.S. Capitol, but a heroic passenger revolted against the hijackers, resulting in the plane crashing in a Somerset County field. The crash killed all 33 passengers, seven crew members and the four hijackers.
Other presidents have chosen not to attend annual 9/11 observances in New York City, Virginia or Pennsylvania.
According to reports, in 2015, President Barack Obama participated in a moment of silence on the White House lawn before heading to Fort Meade in Maryland. In 2005, President George W. Bush marked the anniversary on the White House lawn.
On September 11, 2011, terrorists hijacked commercial airplanes, flying them into the Twin Towers in New York’s financial district and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. At the time of the horrific events, Biden was a U.S. senator.
Back in August 2021, nearly 1,800 people signed a letter calling on Biden to release documents that they believe implicate officials from Saudi Arabia in the 9/11 plot, adding that if he refuses, he should not attend the planned ceremonies in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The letter, written by family members, first responders and survivors, said, in part, “We cannot in good faith, and with veneration to those lost, sick and injured, welcome the president to our hallowed grounds until he fulfills his commitment.
Through multiple administrations, the Department of Justice and the FBI have actively sought to keep this information secret and prevent the American people from learning the full truth about the 9/11 attacks.”
The letter concluded, “Twenty years later, there is simply no reason – unmerited claims of ‘national security’ or otherwise – to keep this information secret. But, if President Biden reneges on his commitment and sides with the Saudi government, we would be compelled to publicly stand in objection to any participation by his administration in any memorial ceremony of 9/11.”
During his presidential campaign, Biden reportedly sent a letter to the group, pledging transparency about the matter.
He wrote, “I intend to be a President for all Americans, and will hear all of their voices. The 9/11 families are right to seek full truth and accountability … I will direct my Attorney General to personally examine the merits of all cases where the invocation of privilege is recommended, and to err on the side of disclosure in cases where, as here, the events in question occurred two decades or longer ago.”
However, after that, the group says that their follow up letters and attempts to reach the administration since Biden took office have gone unanswered.
According to reports, the White House announced that Biden will stop in Alaska for the 9/11 observance at Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on his way back to Washington after attending a summit in New Delhi with other world leaders.
He also plans to visit Vietnam on September 10th.
First Lady Jill Biden will lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon and Vice President Kamala Harris will participate in the annual commemoration at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan.
The White House has not announced who will be representing the administration in Shanksville, located about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh.
Shanksville is the site of the crash of United Airlines Flight 93, one of the four hijacked planes used in the 9/11 terrorist attacks during which nearly 3,000 people died.
Flight 93 was supposed to be flown into the U.S. Capitol, but a heroic passenger revolted against the hijackers, resulting in the plane crashing in a Somerset County field. The crash killed all 33 passengers, seven crew members and the four hijackers.
Other presidents have chosen not to attend annual 9/11 observances in New York City, Virginia or Pennsylvania.
According to reports, in 2015, President Barack Obama participated in a moment of silence on the White House lawn before heading to Fort Meade in Maryland. In 2005, President George W. Bush marked the anniversary on the White House lawn.
On September 11, 2011, terrorists hijacked commercial airplanes, flying them into the Twin Towers in New York’s financial district and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. At the time of the horrific events, Biden was a U.S. senator.
Back in August 2021, nearly 1,800 people signed a letter calling on Biden to release documents that they believe implicate officials from Saudi Arabia in the 9/11 plot, adding that if he refuses, he should not attend the planned ceremonies in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The letter, written by family members, first responders and survivors, said, in part, “We cannot in good faith, and with veneration to those lost, sick and injured, welcome the president to our hallowed grounds until he fulfills his commitment.
Through multiple administrations, the Department of Justice and the FBI have actively sought to keep this information secret and prevent the American people from learning the full truth about the 9/11 attacks.”
The letter concluded, “Twenty years later, there is simply no reason – unmerited claims of ‘national security’ or otherwise – to keep this information secret. But, if President Biden reneges on his commitment and sides with the Saudi government, we would be compelled to publicly stand in objection to any participation by his administration in any memorial ceremony of 9/11.”
During his presidential campaign, Biden reportedly sent a letter to the group, pledging transparency about the matter.
He wrote, “I intend to be a President for all Americans, and will hear all of their voices. The 9/11 families are right to seek full truth and accountability … I will direct my Attorney General to personally examine the merits of all cases where the invocation of privilege is recommended, and to err on the side of disclosure in cases where, as here, the events in question occurred two decades or longer ago.”
However, after that, the group says that their follow up letters and attempts to reach the administration since Biden took office have gone unanswered.
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