“A Debt We Can Never Repay”

Watch the Vice President's speech honoring the Flight 93 National Memorial here.

Nearly a decade after September 11, 2001, Vice President Biden, with Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Laura Bush and Dr. Jill Biden were in Shanksville, Pennsylvania today to participate in a dedication ceremony for the first phase of the Flight 93 National Memorial – a marble “Wall of Names” that enshrines the names of the 40 heroic men and women who, as Vice President Biden said, “gave their lives so others could live theirs” by preventing an attack on our nation’s capitol.

Before an audience that included families and loved ones of those lost, as well as thousands of others there to pay tribute to a remarkable group of Americans, Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky read aloud the names of the 40 passengers and crew as 40 bell chimes rang out in accompaniment. 

The flag that flew above the United States Capitol on September 11, 2001 was ceremonially raised above the memorial, along with the flags of New Zealand, Japan, Germany and Puerto Rico – representing all of the birthplaces of the passengers and crew of Flight 93. 

Vice President Joe Biden and President George W. Bush shake hands with families of the passengers and crew of Flight 93 after the unveiling of the Flight 93 National Memorial, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, September 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

“I hope you take comfort in knowing that a grateful nation understands that your loved ones gave their lives in pursuit of the noblest of earthly goals: defending their country, defending their families, sacrificing their lives so we can live ours,” he continued.

More from Vice President Biden’s remarks:

“Even as we struggle with this tragedy, even as we grapple with the profound loss and devastating grief, we can look up at the heavens and think of these heroes and know, know with certitude that there is not a single, solitary tragedy that America cannot overcome.  There is not a single moment of hardship that cannot be transformed into one of national strength.  The seeds of doubt, planted by those who wish to harm us, will instead grow into flowering meadows like this one where we stand in today, for they cannot defeat the American spirit.  We know this with certainty.  We know it with certainty, because it’s the history of the journey of this country at every stage of our history.”…

“As President Clinton knows, my mother used to say, ‘Courage lies in every heart.’  And she would go on to say, ‘And the expectation is that, Joey, one day it will be summoned.’  ‘Courage lies in every heart, and one day it will be summoned.’  On September 11, 2001, at 9:57 a.m., it was summoned and 40 incredible men and women answered the call.  They gave their lives and, in doing so, gave this country a new life.”

“We owe them.  We owe you a debt we can never repay.”

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden walk past the newly unveiled Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, September 10, 2011. Also pictured are President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, President Bill Clinton, Secretary Ken Salazar, and Jon Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

In addition to remarks from Presidents Bush and Clinton, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Director of the National Parks Jon Jarvis, President of the Families of Flight 93 Gordon Felt, Chairman of the Flight 93 Memorial Chris Sullivan and Chairman of the Flight 93 Advisory Committee John Reynolds, the ceremony also included a remembrance from Reverend Daniel Coughlin – the Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives on the day of the attacks – as well as performances by Sarah McLachlan. 

Following the dedication ceremony, the Vice President and Dr. Biden dropped by the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Station where they visited with firefighters and their families at a barbeque. Outside the station is the cross made of beams from the World Trade Center that the Vice President referenced in his remarks.

Vice President Joe Biden stops by the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department to thank the firefighers, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, September 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)