staying in afghanistan. steve: of course, right now they are reading some of the names, so let's listen in. [captioning made possible by fox news channel] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- [reading of names] bill: good morning, america. it is september 11. over the next few hours, we will be pausing to remember that day. ocean blue skies, a wonderful september morning. eight years later, the weather is much different. we will take a moment to remember. as i said, we will celebrate life, and where we have come since that day. glidepath the pentagon, new york city -- live at the pentagon, new york city, and pennsylvania.

the names of all the victims being read right now. good morning, everybody. welcome to our special coverage of september 11. megyn: at this moment eight years ago, all four flights that would end in carnage took off from their respective airports. flight 93 from boston to los angeles had already flown into -- the first one from boston to los angeles had already flown into the north tower. it was at 9:00 03 a.m. eastern time that united airlines flight 175 flew into the south tower. that moment, too, will be marked by a moment of silence. over the next two hours, we will look back at that fateful day that changed our country

forever. we will honor those who perished and remember the heroes who never came home we will hear from president obama, vice- president biden, from families who lost loved ones, and members of our own team to cover that tragic day. bill: 16 minutes ago we marked the moment of silence for that first airplane that hit the north tower in lower manhattan. we are coming up on 9:09 a.m. when the second tower was struck. at this time, and then-president bush was sitting in a classroom in florida. his chief of staff whispered in his ear and said, mr. president, our country is under attack. also coming up this morning, richard myers, who led the war on terror from the pentagon. we will see how far we have come

in that fight, and with the military has done to keep us safe ever since. 9:03 a.m. here in new york city. >> there is a special fraternity for those of loss that have lost spouses and children, but there is also one thing all americans know to be true, and which we remember most when we come to this site. in enjoys and in our sorrows, we know we belong to one another. tell me about despair, yours, and i will tell you mine, wrote the poet mary oliver. meanwhile, the world goes on. meanwhile, the son and the clear pebbles of rain are moving

across the landscapes over the pears and over the trees, the mountains, and the rivers. meanwhile, the wild geese high in the blue air are heading home again. whomever you are, no matter how lonely the world offers itself to you or your imagination, calls to you like a wild goose, harsh and exciting. over and over announcing your place in the family of thing spigot -- things.

>> my husband was on the 94 floor of tower one. how proud we were of him. we came from the philippines in 1983 with our three children, christopher, and jenny, and jenna. eight years have passed that sometimes it feels like it happened yesterday. the pain can still be so sharp. other times, i realize how my life has changed. my children have grown up. my grandchildren were born. life has brought many gifts to us. three brothers, two sisters, and two -- two families. i wish he could be here to share in them.

but he can still be with us in the way we live our lives. he taught us to be humble and to be patient with one another, to another hole -- never hold on to angkor or hate. in his own words, to find the strength to the gentle, and the courage to be kind. this expresses how i feel. i carry your heart with me, i carried it in my heart. i am never without you. anywhere i go, you go, my dear. i fear no fe, as you are my fate. i want the world or do or my world. and it is you, what you have

always matt, and what we always see is you. we miss you very much, and think you for sharing your life with me. love you. bill: the first of many speeches that we bring you. they are all so touching and they really tug at your heart when you think about when we went through, the amount of uncertainty that gripped the nation. what was coming next? jon scott was lying on fox news channel that day. he is back at his place in more manhattan anaware that ceremony is happening. jon: it was a beautiful blue sky day.

today is a very somber, chile, blustery day. nasty weather by new york standards. sort of a reminder of how things have changed in the country. this event changed everything for so many americans. two warrants being launched, still being fought today. presidential alexian's whose issues have turned on those wars. it has changed everything for virtually every american alive at that time, and every american online right now. bill: mayor bloomberg but on the year earlier today. many visitors go to new york and look at ground zero, and they think, what is being done? but there is a remarkable amount of progress with the transportation and foundation that has been made. on the 10-year mark, and

visitors will be able to walk across a newly built plaza and look at a memorial that he says will be finished. i know, being a new york for yourself, you can see the progress and see what has been done. an awful lot to do, but as the mayor pointed out, you want to do this right. do not rush it. john, there have been complaints from some that not enough is getting -- jon: there have been complaints from some that not enough is getting done, some complaints from some that the terrorists had one. won. as you said, and i come down here every year on this day, but this is the first year, with the construction activity behind

me, and that it really feels like a rebirth is under way. yes, there has been progress in previous years, but this year we see things coming out of the ground, an awful lot of activity. the rebirth of what a really sacred ground for many people. bill: thank you. just reading something from the associated press. this from a woman in new jersey. she carried a framed photo of her sister and best friend down to manhattan today. she said it is the same as it was eight years ago. you begin preparing mentally months in advance. megyn: i think a lot of people can relate to that. people who did not lose loved ones in the attack, but who have lost someone in their life. when the anniversary of their loved one's death approaches, it

is always a difficult time. and so it is for those who lost their loved ones on 9/11. many in the nation, by extension of feel that sense of loss. at this time eight years ago, when the time with her head, the pentagon and all the time to terrorism. we're this hour, defense secretary robert gates will hold a ceremony at the pentagon memorial. president obama is also the expected to speak. bret baier is live at the pentagon this morning. what do we expect at the pentagon this morning?

>> we are moments away from the president's arrival. families and in tears are arriving for the ceremony. the president will lay navy -- a wreath and make some remarks. it is a very somber and a today. -- site today. it is also an added piece of the atmosphere that every few minutes and airplane takes off from the reagan national and takes over this spot. i spoke to a woman who had a sister on that flight and she looks at this place like a crime scene. even eight years later, it is tough to be here, she said. this is the pentagon memorial where there are benches marking the 184 victims of the attack. 59 of them face outward. that is the 59 that were on the

flight. 125 facing the pentagon, those who perished in time. yesterday, i was speaking to a survivor who was inside the building along some of his friends. >> this sounds, the people that you knew, that you worked with, that had died, this small that i could never get rid of. -- smell that i can never get rid of. people needing to get out, needed help. a lot of things that i recall that day -- it is like a tattoo. it never goes away. >> for a lot of the survivors and families here gathered, it is like a tattoo that will never go away. they do in every year, but it is just as painful.

megyn: the pentagon, unlike the world trade center, rebuilt fairly quickly. a lot of our viewers may recall, you were our white house correspondent, and for many years, our pentagon correspondent. you know this building pretty well. take us back to what happened on 2001 -- in 2001. >> before i was named the pentagon reporter, i was actually taken here across the highway. that is where we were given our briefings about the rescue and recovery operations. soon after, i became a pentagon reporter. i have talked to a lot of people in here, survivors who made it out. when you look at this side of the building, at 10:10, the entire side of this building

collapsed. to think that this was rebuilt in one year is pretty astounding. there was a dedication, obviously, in 2002, to note what has been made of this. there is also a chapel at the bottom of where the airplane entered. for the people who work here, this is a special place. megyn: we can see you on 1/2 and those gathering at the memorial on the other half. it looks like some pretty miserable weather today but the turnout is pretty substantial. >> yes, and they are still arriving. the rain had been coming down pretty hard off and on. it is interesting, there is no cover where the president or defense secretary will stand. i do not remember the president not have a cover in this type of weather. we are told he bill make

remarks, and of course, we will show them to you. megyn: that's right. there will be a we-laying ceremony. we will check back in with you in a moment. bill: these numbers are stunning. 40 dead in pennsylvania. 184 at the pentagon. 2752 in new york city. they are reading the names of those 2752 in new york, and we will continue to watch that. eight years ago today, president bush was in the classroom in florida reading to a group of students. the man you are about to see in the photograph broke the news to president bush at the time. he is former chief of staff and your car. good morning to you. -- andrew carr. >> today is a day with images seared in my mind with the

airplanes crashing into buildings, smoke billowing on of them, people leaping from skyscrapers, buildings collapsing, fear of new york is running through the streets. it will never leave my memory. it is also a day when i saw a president meet an awesome responsibility that comes from our constitution. he had been told that it looks like a small airplane that crashed into the world trade center. he entered the classroom and took a seat. there was press in the back. when the door was shut, i was told, it looks like it was not a twin-engine plane, and was a commercial jetliner. then that same person said to me, it was not just one year plan, the other cover was hit. i stood at the door of the classroom and had to tell the president. i made the decision to pass on

two facts. i opened the door, the president and the teachers were speaking to students. the press was gathered at the back, and i looked up, and i saw one reporter now to me, what is up? i said, to planes, indicated some crashing. she looked in quizzically back to me, and there was a break in the conversation and i walked up to the president and whispered into his right ear, very carefully, a second plane hit the second tower. america is under attack. i stood back from him and i was impressed, he conducted himself at that moment and for the hours that followed as he met the responsibilities as commander in chief. there was no doubt he was reflecting on the oath that he took to protect us. bill: what was the editorial that you mentioned in his year?

>> america is under attack. we were at war. it could not have been a coincidence. there was no doubt this was a well coordinated attack from people who wanted to do us harm, and those people are still out there. bill: how do you think we have done eight years later, tracking down those responsible, making sure they do not get another chance like this? >> america has done a fabulous job of rounding the world to the need that recognizing terrorism is that and we need to be united to fight terrorism. we have done a good job% -- preventing another attack. i credit president bush possible result for helping to bring that strength of security to us, but

we have to continue. america is a mighty nation, but that they taught us that we have to be knighted. we have to have resolved. and we need to be compassionate when we work together. let's not forget the sacrifices that we made of timber 11th. let's not forget the sacrifices that are made to prevent another attack. -- september 11. i give credit to all of those people who sacrificed. bill: you think about the sacrifices that those people in the military have made, multiple tours in iraq and afghanistan. so many people paid the ultimate prize, sacrificing to keep us safe. now there is a bit of a debate whether or not today is the remember reading the day to remember, or if it is the day

that congress passed. >> i think it has to be both. it is a day of remembering, somber reflection, a day of resolve, and a day of unity, and a day of surface. tens of thousands rallied to do service products right after 9/11. think about all the volunteers who made their way to help with recovering victims and to find the other victims, provide assistance to the volunteers. let us not forget the great sacrifices that were made by families across the country that said, go and help, and join the military, be part of the cia, fbi. that's not forget the great french and we had with the canadians who accepted tens of thousands of passengers from airplanes into their homes

because there were no hotel rooms. they were friends to america. in fact, friends to america showed up around the world. today should be a day of solemn remembered, reflection, result, and yes, service. bill: thank you. there is a political question about your future in this, but perhaps another day. thank you. there was a statement earlier today from president bush expressing his sorrow and appreciation for everyone turning out today. we will bring that to you. megyn: u.s. forces had al qaeda heart in the months after the attacks but the terrorist group regrouped in the mountainous region along the afghanistan- pakistan border, and has remained active over the last eight years. we are live in pakistan where

many believe al qaeda is most centralized right now. >> that is right, eight years later, it is still believed that usama bin laden and i'm in al-zawahiri are in the pakistani not miss areas. -- mountainous areas. president musharraf's press secretary said even in high levels of the pakistani government, few thought there was al qaeda in afghanistan. >> it may sound naive but i did not think usama bin laden or any others hiding in the mountains could have planned this. >> contrary to u.s. intelligence, he does not believe that they can launch another attack from this region. >> i think if it was possible, it would have happened by now. if there was a chance of doing

any damage, it would have been done. >> about their affiliated groups can strike. and al qaeda-affiliated group is to blame for a hotel attack here last september. >> the last person to interview usama bin laden said that he had seen evidence that al qaeda is recruiting and training terrorists in the pakistani trouble areas and along the afghan border. >> they still have training facilities and they are still able to recruit and train people. >> i spoke with another retired general and he said the aspect that needs to be exploited by now is hitting the taliban in the tribal areas. they provide logistical support to these terrorists in the safe havens. if we can exploit that, we can get to the taliban.

megyn: thank you. bill: we mentioned the pentagon. we understand president obama has arrived. his remarks should be coming up in the a few minutes. the weather in washington, just like it is here in new york city, rainy and cloudy, but is not dampening the enthusiasm for those who want to be there today. we heard some comments from some of the family becomes and they say nothing. don't forget how much of joy and happiness they brought us what they were here on earth, even if it was shorter than expected. we will speak to a woman next, who lost her son on flight 93.

she has a wonderful story about her son. it really brings in remind us how much life was taken away on that morning. megyn: we are going to listen in to the pentagon, but first, it is 9:26 on the east coast. at 9:28 there was a mayday call in pennsylvania. about nine minutes later, the airplane would hit the pentagon. the victims of that plant are now remembered. -- flight are now remembered. ♪ ♪

>> ladies and gentlemen, admiral mike mullen. mr. president, not and first lady, secretary gates, a distinguished visitors, good morning and welcome. i offer a special welcome to the loved ones of those who died or were injured in the attack on the pentagon to a timer 11, 2001 -- september 11, 2001.

we are here to reflect and remember, but who among us can forget, where we were, what we saw, how we felt as citizens, and as a nation. i myself remember the shutter and the smoke, the shipmates i lost, and how the whole world changed that day. as americans, we share a common sorrow for the 184 lives and ended here, and for all of those that perished in new york and somerset county, pennsylvania. some young, some not so young. all of them taken from us, stolen from us, right before our eyes, and well before their time. our grief is real and it is warranted, but if i may, let me ask and i urge that we look upon this day not only with sorrow,

but also with hope for the future, that those we honor wanted us to have in gratitude for the life they wanted us to live. let us face the future with the same resolve, men and women and -- in uniform exhibit. the same courage with which they serve and struggle to ensure another day like that day never happen again. america has said her armed forces forward with that task. in harm's way, you have deployed them. and in harm's way, they stand for you and for each other. many of them, more than 1 million, have been listed after 9/11, because on 9/11. they volunteered to defend their country, to fight for something bigger than themselves. and from afghanistan to iraq and

1000 other places, they are doing just that, and doing it magnificently. they are supported by extraordinary families who work and were read and weight, and who serve every bit as much. all of them know the stakes. all of them know the people behind the 9/11 attacks are planning and plotting others that al qaeda and its extremist allies would not -- like nothing better than to attack us again. eight years of war have changed our troops and their families, but it has not invest in them. indeed, it is difficult to describe the selflessness icy in the field in the fleet, in hospitals, and here at home. so rather than reaching for words i do not possess, i will turn to those of the public -- a

poet, which i believe speaks best for the meaning of this day. and it fell clutch of circumstance i have not winced nor cried aloud. under the bludgeoning of cancer, my head is bloody, but unbowed. beyond this place of rest and cheers blooms but the horror of the shade, and yet the minister of the years fines and shall find me unafraid. mr. president, the men in women of your military stand before you, mournful of our loss, respectful of our duties, but absolutely unafraid of the task before them, and of the menace of these years.

please join me now in a moment of silence and reflection. of silence and reflection. >> thank you. ladies and gentlemen, the hon. secretary of defense robert gates. >> mr. president, madam first lady, distinguished visitors, and above all families and friends, thank you for being here. on september 11, 2001, the pentagon, world trade center, and a field near shanksville, pa. served as the first foreign-

based terrorist attack on the continental united states since the war of 1812. david george, port former prime minister of the u.k., speaking in the opening months of world war i said the stern hand of fate has urged us to elevation where we can see that thing that last. the great peaks that we have fun of honor, duty, patriotism, and clad in a glittering white, the towering pinnacle of sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to the heavens. today we honor the dead and speak to the survivors and loved ones whose lives are irrevocably changed on that terrible day eight years ago. words are inadequate to remove the pain of that loss, and the lives of these patriots, we can find some solace. because they live and because of the great pinnacle of their sacrifice, and because of the sacrifice of thousands more since that day, we remain a

strong and free nation. those who fell are commemorated here, and they are represented by the men and women you see around you. it is a docent program being run today by meese and poland who lost her husband, a navy captain robert dole and. she and other members -- family members have added something poignant and profound to the program. we are honored on this day that the president and first lady, who have made the welfare of military families her priority, are here to help us commemorate this anniversary. it is with my great pleasure to introduce our commander in chief, the president of the united states [applause] -- states. [applause] >> secretary gates, admiral

mullen, members of the armed forces, fellow americans, family and friends of those that we lost this day, michelle and i heard deeply humbled to be with you. 8 september have come and gone. no turning of the season can didn't -- diminish the pain and loss of that day. no passage of time and no dark skies condone the meaning of this moment. so on this solemn day, at this take an hour, once more, we pause, once more, we pray. as a nation, as a people. in city streets where our two

towers were turned into ash and dust, the quiet field where the plane fell from the sky, and here, where a single stone of this building is still blackened by the fires. we remember the lines that we lost. we've read their names. we pressed their photographs to our hearts. and on this day that marks the death, we recall the beauty and meaning of their lives. men and women and children of every color and creed, across our nation and for more than 100 others. they were innocent, harmon no one. they went about their daily lives. they now well in the house of the lord for ever. we honor all those who gave their lives so that others could live, and all those who suffered

burns, wound, to help others rebuild their lives of men and women who gave life to that most simple of rules, i am my brother's keeper, i am my sister's keeper. we pay tribute to the service of a new generation. young americans live -- raised in a time of peace and plenty solve their nation in a time of need and said, i will do my part. once more, we grieve. will you again for your families, no words the ease the ache of your hearts, no need to fill the empty places in your homes. on this day, he may fall we did find solace in the memories of those you love and know that you have the unending support of the american people. scripture teaches us a hard truth. the mountain may fall in the earth may give way, the flash

and the heart may fail, but after all our suffering, cannot and grace will restore you can make you strong, firm, and steadfast. so it has been for these families, so it must be for pollination. let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this barbaric and plot against us still. in defense of our nation, we will never wait in pursuit of al qaeda. we will -- let us renew our commitment of all of those who serve in defense, the courageous men and women who serve to protect us at home. mindful of the work that it is never finished, we will always keep america safe.

let us renew the spirit of that date. not the human capacity for evil, but the human capacity for good. not the desire to destroy, but the impulse to save and to serve, and to build. on this first national day of service and remembered, we can summon once more that were merely goodness of america by serving our communities, our country, to better, world. most of all, on a day when others sought to sap our confidence, let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as americans. united not only in our grief, but resolved to stand with one another. to stand up for the country we all love. this may be the greatest lesson of this day, the strongest

rebuke to those who attacked us. the highest tribute to those taken from us. with such center -- a sense of purpose need not be seen with a fleeting moment. it can be a lasting virtue. through their own lives, and through you, love the ones they left behind, the men and women who lost their lives in years ago today leave a legacy that still shines brightly in the darkness and it calls on all of us to be strong and firm and united. that is our calling today and in all the september still to come. may god bless you can comfort you, and may god bless the united states of america. [applause]

>> at this time, president obama will pay tribute to the 184 lives lost on the pentagon and those lost on 2001 by placing a wreath at the zero age line at the pentagon memorial. ♪

>> this concludes our ceremony. thank you for your attendance. bill: it was such a critical point in the pentagon to history to make sure on the first anniversary of the attacks of 9/11, that it was restored to its original form. they made that deadline about one week before september 11. i mentioned earlier a statement by former president bush. here is in part -- -- here is based in part -- their courage, sd

sacrifice, is a fitting tribute to all those who gave their lives on the september 11, 2001. he concludes, on this day, we need to prevent people from returning to our shores. the statement from george bush. megyn: we are getting a lot of e-mail from our viewers, many of them walking from overseas. -- watching from overseas. one of them comes from joh mcalpine. he said soon after the attack, i joined the navy. i am running from iraq. god bless all the families affected by this attack. i will fight for you so that you do not have to. it is a day to remember those who perished, and also of those

who changed their own lives to protect this country from further attack. some of whom came out of the building where the president is that now. bill: as we were listening to the president, we were remarking, in our business, we have to deal with the state every year. last year here in new york city, it was senator john mccain and senator barack obama who came down here and walked down the plank into the deaths of ground zero. a different image now one year later as the rain falls on his soup. -- suit. megyn: this time last year airplane had struck both towers

and the pentagon. there was another flight in the air and it would eventually come down in pennsylvania. it must under siege at around 9: 20 8:00 a.m. when the pilot made a mayday call. he wrote actions of the people on that flight -- the heroic actions of the people on that flight will be remembered by this country forever. it is completely understood and accepted by those in washington that the passengers on that flight saved lives. most particularly, in the u.s. capitol, where they believe that their plan was headed. we will be speaking to the mother of one of those passengers shortly. in the meantime, president bush was speaking to a group of elementary school students when he first learned that our

country was under attack. bill sammon was traveling with president bush and he remembers that day well. of course,, washington editor, bill sammon, is with me from washington. it is incredible to hear your story, and a reporter who covers president bush, who was with him on that day. you interviewed him about his reaction and what he went through after word. describe when president bush first learned that we were under attack. >> when he arrived, he was told that perhaps a small plane had accidentally struck the world trade center, so he put together some statement saying that he pledged the full resources to dealing with this accidental tragedy. he put it in his pocket, and the plan was to recite that at that end of his photo-op.

60 seconds later, the second airplane it's the second tower. he did not know it. it is one of those circumstances where everyone in the room, reporters in the back, they all have pagers, beepers, and they were getting these updates, news alerts. the president is the last one in the room to have the information. i remember two things. ari fleischer was worried that he was going to give this woefully accidental statement about an accident a plane crash. he wrote on his legal pad, do not say anything yet. the kind of show it to the president so that he understood, he better keep his mouth shut. he did not know what happened then the real moment, when andrew card, his chief of

staff, bricks presidential protocol, walks across the room in the middle of a televised oval office. now he knows something major is up. he whispers into his ear those terrible word that would transform his presidency, a second plane hit the second tower. america is under attack. i watched that clip again this morning. eight years later, it is still tough to watch. you can see the wheels turning in his head as he struggles to digest the magnitude. america had not been under attack since pearl harbor, since before bush was born. the only time america had been under the time before then was the war of 1812. here you have this young president. he is not being told any details. he is on camera and is telling this man on a piece of information.

megyn: you spoke to him later and asked him what went through his own head, trying not to panic them. what did he tell you? >> he said he was shaken by the news. he controlled his emotions to gather his wits. he wondered if he should leave the room. he decided tuesday to finish the thought of and then decide what was going on. -- photo-op and then decide what was going on. by the time he got on air force one and headed up to one of the military bases and appeared before the cameras, you could see the redness in his eyes, and it was apparent that he had been

weeping. megyn: one piece of the story that some may forget is that everything changed for president bush, the man at the helm of our government, that moment that andrew card whispered in his year. is it clear now that his presidency was defined by these moments which we are commemorating eight years later? >> unquestionably. he inherited -- became a war- time president. we forget, it was a very tenuous presidency. there were doubts about his legitimacy from the recount. he was caught up in these controversies about arsenic in the drinking water, whether stem cells was the biggest thing on his plate. all of a sudden, all of that went away. doubt about his legitimacy

largely by the way, except for his greatest critics. in the days after, on september 14, when he said, i can hear you, you saw his approval ratings go to ratings that no other president in history has reached. he reached 90%, a new record. we talk about how his approval ratings fell over the next seven years, but we do not remember that he was the most popular president in american history at one time. megyn: he vowed to track down those responsible for these attacks and take them to justice. here we are eight years later and many of the top operatives have been captured or killed. the same for the taliban, although they are still putting up a fight in afghanistan. the face of al qaeda remains at large, usama bin laden. how much do you believe that

weighed on him when he left office? >> he never admitted it, but i believe it weighed on him heavily. they did get a lot of the al qaeda top leadership, kept us safe for eight years, and ironically, he was a victim of his own success. by foiling these plots behind the scenes, implementing these counterterrorism tactics, whether it was torture, surveillance, he actually succeeded in thwarting the attacks, and consequently, a lot of us got back into that complacency and started to pick on him for other stuff. his approval ratings fell, but it is because he had been successful. all of us now that we would be hit again. no one thought that eight years later we would not be hit again.

megyn: earlier this morning they had a retrospective video showing the video. we will not be showing it. we only show in once a year. we do not think it is something to be exploited, but something to be remembered. we have shown that videotape once already this morning. it takes you back very much to the moments unfolding across the country as we learned the world trade center was under attack, and then we learned the pentagon had been hit. then we heard another flight had gone down in pennsylvania. we heard warships are being brought to the waters of new york city and washington, d.c. air traffic was shut down. the wheels of the financial

system in the country ground to a halt. our defense system had been attacked at the pentagon. on that day, if you would have asked the average american, how they felt about enhanced interrogation techniques, you might have gotten a different answer. >> when president obama just made his remarks at the pentagon, one of the things he said was, will it have been a fleeting moment or a lasting virtue? he may have been referring to the virtue of helping your fellow man, but you could also look at that as the fleeting moment of realizing what was really important in this world, in the age of global terrorism. we were focused like a heart attack on what was happening. we have got away from that. if nothing else, these anniversaries serve as a small reminder of what the stakes are

as we face global threat of terrorism and a reminder to get us through the next year. megyn: a tough but important reminder to have as we watch these images of downtown manhattan on september 11 eight years ago. we appreciate you being here. bill: back to new york city where we are reflecting on the summer of 2001. it was a summer filled with stories about sharks and in washington, d.c. in turn by the name of shawn really be -- chandra levy. our lead story was whether or not michael jordan would come back to play basketball. we will up the next morning entirely changed. jon scott is at ground zero and he is listening to one of the most poignant moments that you will observe, the reading of

the 2007 hundred 82 names. jon: -- 2782 names. jon: we are coming up on the moment when the second plan had -- when the second tower collapsed. once i saw there was a terrorism attack, i saw the twin towers on fire, i figured that they would put the fire out and it would take a while, but they would be repaired. i do not think any of us expected these tires to fall, especially as quickly as they did. that was the stunning outcome of this that will always stay with me. i have done some research on them. after the first unsuccessful basement bomb attack, i knew that they were designed to impact -- of george the impact of a 787, the largest airplane

flying at that time. bill: we are coming up on the moment that the north tower tel. megyn: in one minute, we will have a moment of silence in new york city and pennsylvania to commemorate the moment that the south tower fell. it fell 56 minutes after impact. only 14 people escaped from above the impact zone. four people above eight escaped using stairwell a, the only one left intact after the impact. now those people will be remembered. >> [reading of names]

[reading of names] >> i am honored to be here on behalf of the volunteers and

responders from the mount sinai world trade center medical monitoring and treatment program. [bell rings]

>> emily dickinson spoke profoundly, if i can stop one hard from breaking, i would not -- megyn: in moment of silence to commemorate the victims who perished as the south tower fell 56 minutes after it had been hit. in about five minutes, they will commemorate the crash of flight united airlines 93. that flight was going from newark to san francisco. the passengers on board had the advantage of time to talk to some of their cell -- to some of their loved ones. they fully realized that the plan would never touch down in san francisco.

some heroic stories coming out of the flight, for which we can think the passengers on board, passengers like todd beamer, whose call of "let's roll" still resonates with many. they decided that they were not going to let that plane be taken down by terrorists, and certainly not in a manner that would increase loss of life at some time in this country. it is believed that the flight was headed to washington, d.c. [bell rings] [reading of names] [reading of names] [bell rings]

[reading of names] [reading of names] [bell rings] [reading of names]

[bell rings] [reading of names] [bell rings] [reading of names] [bell rings]

megyn: we listened to some of the family members. at this moment, there were struggling to get into the cockpit to try to take back over control of that plane. we know that because some of the passengers on board, like a man i mentioned moments ago had called in to loved ones to an operator and talked about what the passengers planned to do. his wife was pregnant.

he and the operator said a prayer together. then she heard him say, "let's roll." it is believed the passengers on that flight stormed the cockpit to try to take over. one was heard saying, if we do not, we die. it is in the cockpit, we believe they attempted to go. at exactly this moment, eight years ago. [reading of names] [bell rings] [bell rings] [reading of names]

[bell rings] [reading of names] [bell rings] [reading of names] [bell rings]

[reading of names] [bell rings] [reading of names] megyn: all 40 people were killed in shanksville, pennsylvania. today, it is a somber memorial spot for the loved ones who were on board that flight. a show of to pay tribute to the people they lost on that day. the people to own this country

owes an enormous debt of gratitude. this tragedy would have been far worse if it had not been for the bravery, the car -- that we saw on the passengers on board that flight. bill: the flying time is just about 15 minutes from that location in central pennsylvania. in a moment here, we're going to go back to the pentagon. the joint chiefs of staff -- he recently wrote a book. what he talked about is when the plane hit the exterior wall, that was one of the newer areas that had been refurbished. the materials were stronger and a lot more people to get out of the pentagon. the steel supports held up for 30 minutes, allowing hundreds of employes to escape from the pentagon. pentagon. bill: back to the pentagon in a

matter of minutes. megyn: as we watch these pictures, we remember what happened in lower manhattan as well, this time eight years ago. as these pictures unfold at this time, i want to remind people, at this point, 10:10, the south tower had fallen. the north tower had not yet fallen. some of the brave men and women who were in the north tower trying to rescue the people trapped did not know that the south tower right next to them

had gone down. a lot of the firefighters -- that is why we had such a high death toll, particularly among the new york fire department. 343 new york fire department personnel were lost, another 23 from the nypd. not to mention the people who were trying to earn a living. hone of the women who work in there was in there. her sister lost her sister. she is our guest. patricia, good morning to you. thank you so much for being here for a difficult day for you and

your family. tell us a little bit about it. >> how she had a great sense of humor. she was a beautiful and funny lady. she made you laugh about it. she was just that type of person who made everybody feel special. we miss her every day. megyn: if you could stand by for just a moment, we have breaking news out of washington. bill: here is what we are learning. the u.s. coast guard ship of some type fired on what is considered a suspicious boat in the potomac river. that is in central washington, d.c. this is amid high security.

it is just a few hundred yards, we're working to confirm this and figure out what happened. out of washington, d.c., the new york coast guard fired on the basis fishes boat amid high security during the 9/11 ceremonies. megyn: it is quite something. the potomac river is a popular river down there. this time of year, you see many residential boating activity going on out there, people enjoying the summer weather with their family. the coast guard is ever present, often having to rescue boaters who find themselves trapped. to learn that they are on this body of water right now and according to reuters have opened fire on a suspicious boat in

this river on this day is quite telling bill: catherine herridge has been working resources in washington. we will find out what she is learning, but picture on your screen is about as much as we have at the moment. the boat is moving toward the area, we believe is in question. we assume that one belongs to the u.s. coast guard. we are not even sure which boat is considered suspicious. we do not know how many people are on board or whether or not there was evasive action that was taken. this is breaking news right here on september 11. megyn: tensions are running high in the nation's capital for all the obvious reasons. the security personnel, the people charged with keeping us safe, including the u.s. coast guard in the water surrounding

washington, d.c. this is part of their responsibility to patrol the waters and make sure that no danger was able to come into the nation's capital. we have very scant facts as to why exactly they found this suspicious, was the warning signs were, or what led them to not just engage in a showdown, but to actually open fire on it clear. if you look at the banks of the river, this is how washington, d.c. residents get to work. there will be people jogging, people biking along trails that fall like this river on a boat -- on both sides. in any event, they are going about their daily activities. the river flows through a very busy area. what exactly this boat was doing that caught the attention of

the authorities remains to be seen. bill: traffic is moving fine on the bridges. washington metro police -- they have a harbour patrol down there in addition to the u.s. coast guard -- we're in touch with them trying to figure out what is happening. they said, we cannot talk right now. they are trying to find out the answers, just like we are. that is a live picture of the potomac river. again, even though the pentagon is close by in relative terms, it is a hike away in terms of accessing or getting there, especially by water. the u.s. coast guard opening fire. traffic at the moment seems to be moving just fine. we have not seen other watercraft moved to the area. what does that mean? that is not certain.

perhaps the threat is over. megyn: various reports of a suspicious vessel. contrast that with reuters reporting that the u.s. coast guard has actually fired on the suspicious vote rajitboat. i believe that is the 14th street bridge. this is a major commuting route for people. we are not exactly sure what we are seeing. we have this live feed coming in to us and very little else, other than the reuters report that the coast guard has opened fire on a boat. the danger of small boat craft is something that is known to local authorities for a long time. bill: i cannot recall a time when a story like this where the

u.s. coast guard has opened fire. megyn: this is what you hear about when people board ships in somalia. bill: sometimes, they are the only watercraft in the area. they have kept up their own village -- their own vigilance in new york city as it relates to terrorism. again, we cannot make any connection with what is happening in washington and the observances that we have watched at the pentagon and shanksville and here in new york city. reports are that the u.s. coast guard opened fire on a suspicious boat. the story broke about 10 minutes ago. we are early on in this thing so far.

megyn: it is easy when you think shortly after this 0.8 years ago, as the afternoon progressed, the u.s. navy scrambled to get our warships and aircraft carriers in a position outside of washington, d.c. we have warships and aircraft carriers coming down to protect our eastern shore. here we are eight years later when there is just a small vessel that has created a threat large enough that the u.s. coast guard felt comfortable opening fire on it or thought that was the right measure. yet, we can see clearly the road traffic flanking the potomac has not been shut down. traffic across the 14th street bridge has not been shut down. we do not know what the status is of the water. we only see in one or two boats. whether these are the votes in question, we do not know. are these the boats that are

involved in this incident? we cannot tell you at this point. bill: apparently there is a conference right now with the u.s. coast guard, but not much of a comment coming out for my organization. we're working on our own sources to try to nail down some of these facts. the patient with us. general richard myers is going to be our guest here in a minute. washington, d.c., boating is a way of life. you can see boats all over that waterway. megyn: the host of "special report," says that it is standard practice that if a boat is not responding, warning shots could be fired at a boat by the coast guard. the report out of reuters is

that the coast guard fired on a suspicious boat. the suspicious boat was fired on by the coast guard. however, it is very early. we are not getting confirmed details of the authorities. it is possible that warning shots were fired firsthand that is what is being reported. we just do not know at this point. by the way, we're watching as president obama took the memorial bridge to and from the pentagon. we're watching the memorial bridge in the foreground and the 14th street bridge. president obama was on that memorial bridge this morning as he made remarks at pentagon has. when exactly does incident with the boat and the coast guard took place, we do not know. the wire report came across just moments ago. exactly what the timing is, we

are still trying to confirm that. bill: it could be shots that are fired in the air if the craft is not doing exactly as the coast guard says. a former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is live out there in california. what are the rules of engagement, as you understand them? >> i think first of all, people have to realize that if this happened on 9/11, we would not have this kind of security on the potomac river. we did not have a department of homeland security. we were not patrolling our waterways with the same vigilance that we are patrolling our ports today. i agree with your comments that you have to be careful. these could of been warning shots to get the attention of a

craft that was not responding to orders to let them see what they are up to. it is a very real concern. those would be classified. i think what has happened here, either warning shots, or if it thought it was an imminent danger, they could fire on the offending code. bill: there is one more scenario here. this could have been a coast guard exercise. would that have happened on a day like today? >> i guess it could have happened on the day like today. it seems to be pretty bad judgment with the president moving to have an exercise close to what the president would have.

bill: the first point you made should be very well taken on a day like today. that is the patrols that take place. they did not happen on the level of vigilance that we had prior to 9/11. >> people always ask, are we safer today? a lot has taken place since 9/11. the department of homeland security is one example. for the first time, we had a military command that it was responsible to support in the case of natural disasters. we first saw them in action during katrina in 2005. we have reorganized ourselves to be better at our own internal security. bill: excellent points. i'm going to turn our attention

back to 9/11 in a moment. megyn: one person has spoken to the fbi. something happened and that the coast guard has the lead on this. we should expect a statement from the coast guard shortly. we are trying to follow up with the coast guard as well as the fbi. the fbi is telling him, something happened. the coast guard has the lead on it. that is the latest that we have out of our washington, d.c. bureau. bill: back to the remembrances that are happening right now in lower manhattan. you have written a fascinating book. some of the information you have included in your book is information i did not know before about 9/11. the amount of misinformation that was floating through the airwaves that day, that morning, when we had no idea what possibly could come next. take us back to that day about

what is perhaps the most vivid memory for you. >> i think the most vivid memory was coming across the 14th street bridge and knowing the pentagon had been hit, driving back to the pentagon and seeing the black smoke into the flames coming out of this american icon was like a very bad movie. smoke in the air, light smoke at the time and heavier throughout the day. it went throughout the whole building. sitting there in the smoke with the secretary of defense and other officials trying to figure out, what is next, how we protect american citizens, how we protect our forces, or they're going to be attacks around the world, is it only going to be in the u.s.? trying to look into a crystal ball and trying to protect

ourselves. bill: and double rooms filled -- dick cheney, you remember him vividly talking about shooting down the fourth airplane if they got closer to washington, d.c. we know now that it ended up and shanksville, pennsylvania. you quote the president saying, get your facts straight and clean up your language, not you in particular, but in the conversations that were going back and forth in quote the president as saying, we will not pound the sand. >> i think what the president ultimately decided was, this was war. this was not a criminal situation. this was war, once we knew it was al qaeda. i think that was a fundamental shift in u.s. policy on how to handle terrorist attacks like

this. so, when i think he saidinot pound sand, after we launched cruise missiles into afghanistan, the results were probably not very good. i think what he meant was, we're not just going to launch cruise missiles with unknown results. bill: that was august, 1998, just about three years to the month before the attack. if i could turn your attention to the career war on terror, there is an awful lot of debate about what we do in afghanistan. leading democrats and told the white house, do not ask for more troops because we are going to put up a fight. from your view now on the outside, what is the right course in that country? >> i think first of all, we have

some great military leadership that is providing a very good advice to the president and the national security council. i would listen to their advice very carefully, the ones who are involved in this current four months -- his current conflict have been involved since 9/11. they have all had lots of time in theater, more time in theater than with their families for the past eight years. they are steeped in the situation. they understand the complexities. i would listen to them very carefully. by the same token, it is not just a matter of troops. you need enough troops to make the situation secure, but you also need progress along the political front in afghanistan. bill: i have to run, but thank you for your time. thank you for your thoughts that you shared with us today.

megyn: we are getting more and the situation in the potomac. the coast guard said that it was conducting a training exercise in the potomac river moments before president obama and his motorcade across a nearby bridge. the coast guard chief said that no shots were fired as part of the exercise. again, you are looking at the potomac river here. these bridges connect virginia and washington, d.c. the pentagon on the virginia side is where the president travelled this morning. the coast guard said that this was a training exercise and no shots were fired. however, our local affiliate spoke with the coast guard and we're being told that they were told that there was a training exercise that used fake bullets.

so, contrast that, one statement that they were doing a training exercise and there were fake bullets involved. the of the report says that it was a training exercise and no shots were fired. this is what is coming out. fox news is confirming that this was a training exercise. the park police had told fox news that it was not a training exercise. perhaps catherine herridge can enlighten us. she is our national security correspondent. >> just stand by one second. i am turning off my blackberry. i got a statement from homeland security. the headline out of the statement is that they cannot confirm that shots were fired or any law enforcement action was taken.

i have heard from one of our affiliate's who said that it is an exercise to give you some context here, we know from our own reporting that there has been a real emphasis not just here in washington, but other cities with waterways and port cities, real emphasis on what they call a small boat attacks after the attack in mumbai, india. that was one of the routes that terrorists used to launch attacks and take hostages in that hotel. that has been one of their priorities in the past few months it appears from the growing mountain of evidence that we're collecting, it appears at this point that it was an exercise and perhaps a very poorly-time exercise given the proximity of the exercise to the pentagon and also the

president's route to the pentagon. we will have to see in fact if that is the case. the evidence we are receiving suggests that it was an exercise. department of homeland security is not confirming shots fired or any law enforcement activity. our producer who says he has been in touch with the coast guard says that it is an exercise. all of it takes on greater significance. it is a day that feels like no other >> as you were speaking, this report saying that the depart march -- the departures at reagan national airport had been halted shortly after 10:00 as a precaution. no word on whether the flight traffic has reopened. this is as we get confirmation from the coast guard that it

was indeed a training exercise. does this surprise you that the coast guard would be conducting this kind of a training exercise on 9/11? >> well, if you've seen "crimson tide" you know that it could be the best time to perform an exercise. they are exercising on a regular basis. i would say that right out of the gate. secondly, what the story may develop into is one where there was not good communication or coordination between homeland security, the coast guard, and the white house. i do not want to get ahead of ourselves. i think we should stick to the facts as we know them. it has been a very confused

picture. it does appear that it was an exercise and perhaps a poorly- time exercise. perhaps it was not communicated to those who would be in that area. it is a very tight area in washington, d.c. megyn: there will be serious questions about the judgment of those responsible for this is indeed the course cart conducted this training exercise in a way that endangered anyone or scared all lot of people in the nation's capital. now they're saying that no shots were fired, contrary to initial reports. >> it really just looks like it is a bad confluence of events. sometimes, timing just kills you in these situations. that might have been what transpired this morning. bill: it is worth pointing out,

planes land and they take off from over that river. give some credit to the coast guard for trying to get ready for that if some terrorists are going to jump on a boat and set up shop. we will work through this with bret baier. i guess your about a mile from there. >> not even. i listened to the conversation that katharine had just now. we do not know all the facts here. we're being told that it was a training exercise by the coast guard. they are saying that there were no shots fired. as you heard general myers just talking about, if in fact this was a training exercise on 9/11, and the potomac, just a few miles away from where the president was speaking at a pentagon ceremony, as the

motorcade traveled right next to where this incident happened, that is a serious lack of judgment. someone is going to be looking into it today. obviously, all of the people here are very supportive of the security measures that had to be taken, but there is a sensitivity on this day, of all days about sending the wrong message, if the training exercise happened when all this is going on. i think there are a lot more facts that we need to find out, but will form an opinion anyway. bill: i think about traffic overseas, it is a good message for them to hear, the vigilance is strong as it has ever been eight years later. >> that is a good thing. we're in a much different world after 9/11.

the security is the utmost concern for authorities. there were a lot of things going on. the secret service taking the motorcade over that bridge, this event, the area was shut down. it is interesting timing for a training exercise to be going on at that time. bill: thank you. as we work through this story and figure out what is happening there, how often they carry out exercises like this -- is a daily, weekly, monthly? the potomac is a pretty good stretch of water right there. as we observe memorial bridge and the other bridges in the far ground, several watercraft have assembled. megyn: we are going to continue covering this. we will bring you more information as we get it.

when this news broke, i was conducting an interview with patricia reilly who conducted -- who lost her sister on 9/11. i want to resume with her who is standing by down at the world trade center site. thank you so much for standing by. i want to talk about your sister. she worked in the south tower. you were telling us what kind of person she was. as we watch this alert on fold where there's all sorts of controversy about what measures -- what measures which it have taken to keep this country safe, you as a family member, where do you stand on it? >> i really believe that we have to do everything in our power to make this nation secure. nobody should have to suffer what 9/11 family members suffered.

i think that our president and homeland security need to do everything in their power to make sure that we are safe and they are doing everything to make sure that al qaeda and the people who perpetrated this terrible crime against our loved ones never have the chance to do that again. megyn: she actually was working -- you believe that she was with some guy when she died following his directions. you never got back the remains of your sister. you did get back something. >> about two years after 9/11, we were told that they had recovered the pocketbook.

it was fully intact. all her belongings were inside there. my mother has the rosary beads. her money, her wallet, everything was in the pocketbook. megyn: her purse is intact. it has a birthmark on one side. other than that, it is in one piece, which is stunning. >> i do believe that. everything that came down with the towers was polarized. her bag was found close to the south tower. megyn: you have decided to give

it to the smithsonian, which has to remember is to those killed on 9/11, except for one item that your mother kept. >> those were her rosary beads. she was a very faithful person. she had a deep love and faith for her god. that was such an important part for her life. we gave the person to the smithsonian. we wanted for her to be remembered. i am involved in the 9/11 education trust, which we just finished a high school curriculum for high-school students. it has seven lessons.

500 teachers downloaded that remembrancer peace. megyn: that is such an amazing gift you have given to the new generation. the students are 15 years old or so on. they do not remember the 9/11 attacks that you or i do. to them, it is just as vague recollection. thanks to the efforts that you and others have taken, they will be taught about who was behind it and the horrors that unfolded here. >> and the heroine. megyn: when you look back, have you been able to make any sense of it? have you been able to draw any lessons from it, any purpose from in? >> i do not understand why it happened, yet i made a curriculum for high-school kids

about it. i cannot make sense of why people were slaughtered. the purpose i make is to live our life and do what we can to make sure that the people that she was killed with on that day are remembered and we never forget them. that we stay vigilant as you said, teach our use about how they can be empowered through civic participation in getting their government to act on their behalf. megyn: we're going to have much more on that in our next hour. all the best to you. bill: it always strikes me as a bidder remarkable. the native americans believed that the souls of the departed speak to us in the wind.

this giant gust of wind came from the east of new york city. it blew all day long. 35 miles an hour, knocked over our tents, cameras, and our television cameras. some people think that is a sign that maybe we are belaboring the point too much. on new york city in lower manhattan, the world -- they will build again. they are absolutely convinced of it. what will it look like? rick leventhal is live with us on that story. >> good morning to you. it is nowhere near where many people thought it would be.

the freedom tower is now rising above the well. you can see the steel framing that surrounds the base of this massive building that will rise to 1,700 feet. that will not happen until the year 2013. that is further along. they are telling us that the memorial will be finished by 2011. for the 10-year anniversary, the museum will take a little bit longer. in the southeast corner of what has been called the bathtub, there is another building that is rising. that is being built by the person who leased the property six weeks before the 9/11 attacks. he has been struggling to get

something built, dealing with all sorts of issues with the port authority. did he ever think about walking away from this? here is what he told me. >> how many times did you come this close to walking away from all of this? >> walking away? it has never been an option for me. i want very badly to get it built. unless we stay with this program, this whole rebuilding effort cannot come about. that would be a tragedy. we have gone through too much. too many lives were lost here. >> he says that is an example of what he hoped to do and what he believes can be done here.

bill: rick leventhal updating us on what happened. the mayor has said that the families of the victims will walk across a plaza. megyn: tonight, we will air a prime-time special about 9/11. 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 it will present a complete timeline of those events. you can catch it tonight on fox at 10:00 eastern time. we will be right back. geatmagi reen f a..

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bill: eight years down the road on the september 11, and we remind viewers at home that the names of the victims here in new york and at the pentagon in shanksville, pennsylvania, will scroll on the bottom of your screen during remainder of our coverage here. colin powell is there today, the keynote speaker. you will see his video. passengers on flight 93 gave the hijackers of the could handle. their actions are credited with saving the lives of countless others and potentially for lee plans to attack capit -- foiling plans to attack the capitol. this man was a giant, six-foot,

5 inches. his mother is with me now. tell me about mark. he ran with the bulls in pamplona. how are you doing today? >> i'm feeling a little blue. i came in from washington d.c. on the train yesterday and i can feel the tension as well as the pride in both cities. it really is wonderful to be here in new york. it was fine when megyn mentioned a friend of my son earlier. they both went to los gatos high school, and i wonder if they recognized each other in making this plan to charge the cockpit. they were both athletes.

mark was a rugby player, torches played basketball. there were several rugby players as well. sports the ability stands you in good stead when you have to stand up physically. bill: they picked the wrong guys. >> yes, they or several people over 6 feet tall and they decided to stop them. bill: i guess there is a lot of wisdom and that, looking at what happened. >> i am so glad they did not let the moment passed them by and they were able to stand on their feet in charge and did what they could to prevent flight 93 from becoming a weapon.

bill: you did a good job of remembered everyone on board a flight and the three. -- you did a good job of remembering everyone on board flight 93. >> i'm really proud of them, and i have always been proud of my son. i am very happy to put my name behind a really fine group that has worked to make 9/11 a national day of service and remembrance. i think it makes a lot of sense to challenge grief into constructive help and service. to volunteer, to decide that they will do one good deed to remember those who fought and died in 9/11 of 2001. the way they show themselves in

the afternoon of 9/11. bill: you are a credit to your son, whether it is here in new york, shanksville, pennsylvania, washington d.c. you are a remarkable woman. i applaud your strength. >> thank you. we are all strong on this day. i am happy to share grief and inspiration with those who lost loved ones on that awful day eight years ago. bill: be in touch. i know you will. thank you once again. megyn: he was that president bush's side when america came under attack. former white house secretary larry fleisher -- ari fleischer, live in a couple of moments. and you can watch the memorial's live on our website, streaming

all day.