“Terrorists will never be able to defeat the United States”, Mr. Obama said. The remembrance service held six moments of silence, in which the first one was observed at 8:46 am (1246 GMT), commemorating the when the first hijacked passenger jet hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
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“We’re still the America of heroes who ran into harm’s way, of ordinary folks who took down the hijackers, of families who turned their pain into hope”, Obama said. Her campaign offered no additional details, including whether the 68-year-old Clinton had required medical attention.
Fifteen years ago Sunday, a senseless act of terror changed the United States of America forever.Al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two into New York’s World Trade Center towers, plowing one into the Pentagon and grounding the fourth in rural Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, after passengers tried to seize control.The death toll was staggering, with 2,996 lives lost and more than 6,000 people injured.
“Our diversity, our patchwork heritage, is not a weakness”.
It has been 15 years since the most brutal terrorist attack on the American soil.
He urged Americans to view the anniversary of the attacks as an opportunity to “reaffirm our character as a nation” and, in what could be interpreted as a veiled reference to Trump’s immigration proposals, “not to let others divide us”.
Obama spoke on warm, sunny morning, noting that the threat that became so evident on September 11 has evolved greatly over the past 15 years.
“With our stronger defenses, terrorists often attempt attacks on a smaller but still deadly scale”, he added, recalling the Boston marathon bombings, the nightclub massacre in Orlando in June and the carnage in San Bernardino. “May we never forget the countless Canadians, from coast to coast to coast, who opened their hearts and their homes to those affected by the attacks”, he said.
Obama, quoting Scripture, encouraged Americans to reflect on the legacy of the September 11 attacks and how millions responded with an outpouring of love and a greater sense of community. Bind them around your neck.
Obama also marked his final September 11 observance as president with a moment of silence inside the White House to coincide with when the first plane hit the Twin Towers.
The American flag has been lowered to half-staff at the White House and other federal buildings.
He noted that the United States made a number of achievements since the 9/11 attacks having devastating blows to the al-Qaeda leaders, brought justice to Osama bin Laden, strengthened homeland security and prevented new attacks.
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“Let us carry on this patriotism as we work together to solve the current challenges that face the country”, he said.
