In the six-and-a-half-minute speech delivered on Friday, the eve of the anniversary, President Biden reflected on the heroic acts that shined through the horrifying day when 19 terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.
"In the days following Sept. 11, 2001, we saw heroism everywhere," Biden said. "In places expected and unexpected, we also saw something all too rare: a true sense of national unity. Unity and resilience, the capacity to recover and repair in the face of trauma ... Unity is what makes us who we are. America at its best ... At our most vulnerable, in the push and pull of all that makes us human, in the battle for the soul of America, unity is our greatest strength."
He acknowledged the "darker forces of human nature - fear and anger, resentment and violence against Muslim Americans" which followed the attacks, but said that unity had remained the US' "greatest strength".
"We learned that unity is the one thing that must never break," he added. Biden paid tribute to the 2,977 people who lost their lives.
"We honour all those who risked and gave their lives in the minutes, hours, months and years afterwards," Mr Biden added, speaking of the emergency workers who responded to the attacks.
NIGHT OPERATION UNCOVERS THE TRAGIC FATE OF THREE MUSICAL FESTIVAL HOSTAGES IN GAZA TUNNEL
The president also spoke to the position the United States holds on the world stage in history.
"We are unique in the history of the world because we are the only nation based on an idea," Biden said in the video filmed at the White House. "An idea that everyone is created equal and should be treated equally throughout their lives. That is the task before us. To once again lead not just by the example of our power but through the power of our example."
Biden is scheduled to visit New York City ; Shanksville, Pennsylvania ; and the Pentagon — the locations where all three planes crashed to honor the 2,977 men and women who died in the attacks orchestrated by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Biden is not expected to give any remarks.
Though he is not expected to deliver any speeches, in his address on Friday, the president noted: "No matter how much time has passed, these commemorations bring everything painfully back as if you just got the news a few seconds ago."
WILL BIDEN’S DEBATE DEMANDS TURN THE TIDE OR DROWN HIS CHANCES?
ANIMAL PRIDE: NBC'S UPCOMING 'QUEER PLANET' EXPOSES NATURE’S HIDDEN LGBTQ+ LIFE
NO SO MAGICAL: THE COPPERFIELD-EPSTEIN CONNECTION THAT'S RAISING EYEBROWS EVERYWHERE
CAPITOL RECOGNITION: A TRUE AMERICAN EVANGELIST EARNS BIG HONOR...
UNBELIEVABLE! NEW OFFER ON TABLE FOR PRO-HAMAS PROTESTERS AT SUNY COLLEGE (VIDEO)
BIDEN’S HONORARY DEGREE: A SYMBOL OF DIVISION AT MOREHOUSE COLLEGE?
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYS BIG FOR DISMISSING CONSERVATIVE TEACHER
BATTLE LINES DRAWN: TEXAS' GOV. ABBOTT'S LATEST PARDON IGNITES FIERCE DEBATE
NANCY PELOSI IS NOT HAPPY WITH BIDEN'S DEBATE DECISION...
WATCH: TUCKER CARLSON REVEALS NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE IN MIDDLE EAST
THE DEADLY PRICE OF PROTESTING THE TALIBAN'S OPIUM BAN
ERIC SWALWELL HAS A NEW WORD FOR GOP SUPPORTERS OF TRUMP...
PRESIDENT’S POCKETS NOT AS DEEP AS YOU’D THINK—INSIDE THE 'BIDEN BUCKS' BREAKDOWN
NASHVILLE HOTEL CANCELS EVENT AFTER THREATS, BUT LOCAL SUPERHERO STEPS UP TO DOUBLE DOWN SUPPORT
THIS CONGRESSMAN HAS EVIDENCE THAT JOE BIDEN WAS "JACKED UP" BEFORE SOTU
EXPLOSIVE TRUMP VP RUMORS IGNITE AFTER POSSIBLE CANDIDATE DROPS HINTS...
NEW REPORT: SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ACCUSED OF SUPPORTING CONTROVERSIAL "STOP THE STEAL" MOVEMENT
Former President George W. Bush, president at the time when the Sept. 11 attacks took place, will be joining Biden at Shanksville, and former President Barack Obama will join Biden in New York City. The anniversary comes less than two weeks after the final U.S. troops left Afghanistan after 20 years of war to root out al Qaeda.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
