[captioning made possible by fox news channel] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- bill: we have got to say goodbye, but our coverage continues. megyn: before we go, a tribute to our men and women in uniform continuing to fight this battle today. now, jon and jane. jon: a nation remembers, eight years later. ceremonies in new york, pa., and washington, marking a day the change to this country forever. on a grey, windy september 11, bells tolled, bagpipes played, family members and volunteers to read the names of 2700 victims

killed on the site where the pentagon once stood. president obama led memorial services a short time ago honoring the people who died when american airlines flight 77 tore into the side of the pentagon. and in shanksville, the hero of passengers a flight 93 are honored -- the heroic passengers of a flight -- flight 93 are honored. crews will break ground in shanksville to create a memorial for those victims. we thank you for joining us on this september 11. it is a blustery, windy day at ground zero, the site where this all began eight years ago this morning. let me bring on jane skinner, my co-anchor, as we continue this coverage. jane: you were the one who led

the coverage when the planes hit the towers in new york city. things are a bit different this year. jon: it is the first time where you can honestly feel like there is reversed going on here. for so many years, -- you can feel that there is rebirths going on here. for many years, there was nothing behind me where the world trade center once stood. now there are cranes, scaffolds, real activity. that is why they are not able to do much of the ceremonies. there is simply too much construction going on. families are lining up right now, i can see them over my left shoulder. they are dropping flowers in that temporary memorial pool. jane: past ceremonies have been glorious days of sunshine, warm, almost early fall.

how's the weather today? jon: it could not be worse, just about. i would estimate the temperature at about 60 degrees. just when things calmed down, it is almost like a hurricane. you get a blast of wind, and one of nearly knocked down on other cameras are around here. it is fierce, and what began here eight years ago has taken our troops to places like iraq and afghanistan. when i think about what our forces are doing 14,000 feet in afghanistan, i cannot complain about the weather today. jane: not much better in washington. you have people standing by there, as well. >> that is right. we will talk to ari fleischer in just a moment. in other memorial events, the

president and first lady observed a moment of silence in the white house today at the time when flight 11 hit the north tower of the world trade center, which stood behind me. an hour later, the president led services at the pentagon, where flight 77 crashed, killing 184 people. >> 8 septembers have come and gone. nearly 3000 days have passed. but no turning of the season can diminish the pain and loss of the day. no passage of time, no dark skies could ever dull the meaning of this moment. jon: while the president speaks, the jets are taking off and landing just across the river from the pentagon at bring an

airport. tell us what happened at the pentagon, jeff? >> during the president's address, his remarks, it was coming down pretty heavy. planes were still flying over out of washington reagan, which added to the atmosphere at this site where american airlines 77 hit the pentagon eight years ago. beside me is the memorials. each one of these benches represents one of the victims, arranged and age, from 3 to 71. there are benches facing the pentagon for those who died inside, and benches facing skyward for those who died in the flight. the sister of one of the pilot talked to me a short time ago --

the sister of one of the pilots talked to me a short time ago. >> they hit the building at over 500 miles an hour. i do not think i will ever get -- i do not think that will ever be an easy thing for me to remember. >> you're tearing up today, eight years later. >> yes, it is a horrible thing to remember. i pray for the victims and their family. >> the people inside the building, of course, talked to some survivors, as well. this is the exact spot where the plane entered the building, going through three of the five rings of the pentagon that day, and we saw the damage from the pictures of 9/11. one thing that is not talked about a lot is that this part of the pentagon at that time was newly renovated and only

partially occupied. the death toll could have been much higher had more people been occupying this part of the building. jon: memories still fresh in your mind? >> definitely. across the street, all of the reporters gathered to get updates about rescue operations at a chevron station across the highway. it was amazing to see the pentagon burning as we did these reports behind us. i was not in the building when the plane hit, but covering it from that day forward and becoming a correspondent for the next five years, i got a sense for what these people inside the building feel about this day now in remembrancer eight years later -- in remembrance eight years later. jane: a bit of a scare not far

from where he is standing. shots were heard over the potomac river in washington, and the coast guard may have been engaged with a small boat on the water. this is happening as obama and his motorcade were crossing the bridge. now we know more about what was happening. catherine herridge is on it for us. a training exercise? >> that is right. right around 10 eastern, there were scenes of mayhem and confusion with a report that shots were fired and the coast guard had been challenged by boat along that section of the waterway. , it's a charity was very -- homeland security was very concerned about small attacks similar to those in mumbai, india. now we know that it was a training exercise and shots were not fired. but you have to understand, not only the significance of today, but the proximity of this training exercise not only to

the pentagon but other strategic locations in washington. the picture emerging this morning is that it does not appear there was adequate notification about this exercise to other elements of homeland security and even to the pentagon, which would have been a stone's pro from their location. the significance of that is when homeland security was created in 2005, it was created so we would not stovepipe information. so it could be shared in a more efficient way. one of the complaints before 9/11 is that everyone was so busy trying to take ownership of information that they did not share it. so it seems what unfolded this morning is a situation that does not inspire a lot of confidence in the type of sharing that is supposed to go on. we do not want to get ahead of ourselves, but it certainly appears that not enough people knew about the exercise, and any

exercise of this nature on an anniversary that is so significant in many ways, this would be an omission, to say the least. jane: and it does remind you of what happened at ground zero several months ago when they were flying air force one for publicity photos and it did not alert enough people. people were certainly nervous. >> i just want to add this one point. the thing that is unfortunate is that we make a lot of the significance of september 11, but i know that they have training exercises that do not take a holiday just because it is 9/11. it appears that there is not adequate communication of what was going on this morning, and when we had reports of shots fired, that took it up a ramp really quickly. jane: we will get more from the

coast guard at the top of the hour. we will send this back to ground zero. jon: we all remember what we were doing eight years ago. president bush was in florida, a relatively new president eight months or so into his term. right behind him is a man who was his press secretary at the time, ari fleischer. he is our guest, and he will talk about what that morning was like from up close and the administration there was a time i wouldn't step out of the house

without my makeup. now, it's no problem. (announcer) neutrogena tone correcting night serum with high performance soy to even skin tone and active retinol to speed cell turn over. clinically shown to visibly fade brown spots in 14 nights. i even out my skin at night so it looks younger, flawless in the morning. (announcer) neutrogena tone correcting now you can fade and prevent discolorations all day. new tone correcting spf 30. it doesn't cover everything. and what it doesn't cover can cost you some money. that's why you should consider... an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan... insured by united healthcare insurance company. it can help cover some of what medicare doesn't... so you could save up to thousands of dollars... in out-of-pocket expenses. call now for this free information kit... and medicare guide. if you're turning 65 or you're already on medicare, you should know about this card; it's the only one of its kind... that carries the aarp name --

see if it's right for you. you choose your doctor. you choose your hospital. there are no networks and no referrals needed. help protect yourself from some of what medicare doesn't cover. save up to thousands of dollars... on potential out-of-pocket expenses... with an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan... insured by united healthcare insurance company. call now for your free information kit... and medicare guide and find out... how you could start saving. jane: before getting back to ground zero, i wanted to point out what is happening in detroit. students are being evacuated because of a bomb threat at a life skills center, 9-12, a charter school there. you can see that there are some

fire department vehicles there. this is all the information we have at this time. there is some sort of bomb threat, but we do not know the details yet. this is all happening in metro detroit. as we learn more, we will bring it to you. now, back to jon. jon: an image seared into the collective memory of america. the world trade center hit by two hijacked jetliner this -- jack miner -- jet liners. ari fleischer was there on this day that shaped the course of america's future. you were with the president in florida when he got the word. the first tower had been hit. at that point, everybody, including the president, thought

it was an accident. >> it was a small aircraft and we all thought. we thought it was pilot error. but then i got a message that the second tower was hit, and we all knew it had to be terrorism. jon: you have heard criticism of how the president acted that day, staying in the schoolroom. you had an active part, trying to help them process the information. >> i wanted the president to say to the press group that was in the school that new york city had to help in the effort. but i passed a note when the second tower was hit saying not to say anything yet. the president did not yet know the facts. jon: we see that image of any card whispering in his year, and

that he gives little nod. that is unthe background. -- that is in the background. >> some people made a big controversy about that. but it would not change the course of history or anything. he ran out of the room right away. jon: lot of confusion that morning. >> a lot of confusion that day. the two things i will take away from september 11 is the president's determination that we were going to war. he knew it instantly. the other thing is mass confusion. we heard reports that air force one was a target, there was a car bomb in the state department. a lot of incorrect reporting always takes place when there is mass confusion. jon: and there's a lot of

monday-morning quarterbacking today about how the administration responded. >> there is. the security people would say that there is -- the last thing you could do is fly the president to a place that is a target. we learned that there were six unidentified aircraft that not -- had not landed. we thought there still could be six missiles in the air. it turned out there was one more. we thought there might have been five more. it took about 45 minutes for that to clear up. jon: ari fleischer, a very good to talk to you about your front receipt in history. -- very good to talk to you about your front row seat in history. thank you for joining us. jane: reports for flying around that shots were fired over the potomac river in washington. this all happened as the president and his motorcade crossed over the memorial bridge

to head to the pentagon for ceremonies today. we expect the coast are to brief reporters at the top of the hour -- we expect the coast guard to brief reporters at the top of the hour, but we know that it was actually a training exercise that was going on. we are still gathering information on how this might have been misconstrued as an actual incident. we will have a thorough review. the statement goes on to say, "the best way we in the coast guard can remember 9/11 and our security obligation to the nation is always be ready, which requires constant training and exercise. but how this was conducted will be reviewed." we will know at the top of the hour who was notified that this was going on, and why it was going on on 9/11. in the meantime, september 11 of 2009 -- 2001 started as

thousands of people filed into offices at the world trade center. 3000 people there were killed when planes crashed into the twin towers. up next, we will talk to the last survivor, the woman who was last to be pulled from the rubble (pouring rain)

i had a great time. me too. you know, i just got out of a bad relatio... it's okay. thanks. goodnight. goodnight. (door crashes in, alarm sounds) get out! (phone rings) hello? this is rick with broadview security. is everything all right? no, my ex-boyfriend just kicked in the front door. i'm sending help right now. thank you. (announcer) brink's home security is now broadview security. call now to install the standard system for just $99.

the proven technology of a broadview security system delivers rapid response from highly-trained professionals, 24 hours a day. call now to get the $99 installation, plus a second keypad installed free. and, you could save up to 20% on your homeowner's insurance. call now-- and get the system installed for just $99. broadview security for your home or business -

back eight years, words like al qaeda and the taliban were not part of our vocabulary. but now we are very familiar with them, as well as the geography of iraq and afghanistan. terrorists still pose a threat to security. how do our troops feel they are doing?

>> what was poignant this morning in listening to the president speak not far from where i'm standing out on this anniversary of 9/11, is that here at the pentagon, every day is 9/11. when people walk to the door in the morning, they know they have 200,000 troops in iraq and afghanistan, still serving the duty emanating from that day eight years ago. the debate now is whether to send more troops, and that is an immediate question on the desk of president obama. he has received a report and review of the situation in afghanistan, and we understand that the request for more resources, possibly up to 48,000 more troops, could be coming. the president must weigh how to wage this war in afghanistan.

iraq is winding down. it is also it striking that in recent days, we have looked at the number of -- is also striking that in recent days, we have looked at the numbers of soldiers killed, and it is much more likely would be killed in afghanistan and iraq. when i started covering this three years ago, that was unthinkable. iraq was most dangerous. now it has shifted to afghanistan. the debate is whether to send more troops. jane: the time line for the president to send more troops -- what is it? >> the impression that we have from here is that all sides are trying to buy time for that decision to be made. it is not a comfortable decision politically right now because the left members of his own party are so opposed to the war.

you heard nancy pelosi yesterday saying that there is no move to send more troops on capitol hill. they will need more funding. we do know that they will prevent the present 50 benchmarks that need to be -- we do know that they will present 50 benchmarks that needs to be met -- needs to be met by the afghan government -- need to be met by the afghan government. but the request from the general has not made its way up to the chain of command yet. the camps suggests it could be a request -- the camp suggests it could be a request for up to 40,000 troops. jane: harris is on a story about a school evacuation in detroit. it sounds like this evacuation has been expanded.

>> yes, it has grown to include a school in addition to the charter school. 1200 students, and several businesses also evacuated. a lot of little kids have been evacuated. the original school was where the phone call came in. detroit police and saying that the school got a threat of a bomb in a briefcase summer on the campus of this life skills charter -- somewhere on the campus of this life skills tartar school. -- charter school. now they are looking to see if, in fact, there is a briefcase holding a bomb. of course, there is a lot of suspicious activity. we know what day it is. september 11. right now, that original charter

schools from across the street and several businesses. more than 1000 people evacuated here in detroit. jane: now we will go back to jon scott at ground zero. rick leventhal will be here on the reverse of that spot where the twin towers once stood. it is where rich himself reported in 9/11 -- on 9/11 to silence headaches... doctors recommend tylenol... more than any other brand... of pain reliever. tylenol rapid release gels... release medicine fast. so you can stop headaches... and feel better fast.

you all want to run your businesses more efficiently, so we've brought in a team of experts to help. one suggestion is to make your shipping more efficient with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. call or go online for a free supply and up to $160 in offers from authorized postage vendors. shipping's a hassle! weighing every box... actually, with flat rate boxes you don't need to weigh anything under 70 pounds. if it fits, it ships for a low flat rate. ok, but i ship all over the country. you can ship anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. ship international, too. yes, but i ship hundreds of things, in all sizes. great, because flat rate boxes come in four sizes. call and we'll send a free supply, plus up to $160 in offers. when you're ready to ship, we'll even pick them up for free, no matter how many you have. priority mail flat rate boxes only from the postal service.

a simpler way to ship. call or go online now to get started. people notice my devotion to family. people notice my love for animals. my smile. my passion for teaching. my cool car. people notice i'm a good friend and a good listener. people notice that i'm a good boss. people notice my love of nature. people notice i can fix anything. (announcer) thanks to miracle-ear what people don't notice about you is your hearing aid because, look closely, our hearing aids are nearly invisible. our exclusive line of open fit products are so lightweight, so small and so natural sounding even you won't know you're wearing one. you know, most people don't know how good or bad their hearing is... they just know when they're missing things or hearing words incorrectly. miracle-ear can help. with a quick, free hearing test. miracle-ear has been helping folks for nearly 60 years. we're the number one choice in hearing aids.

get your free hearing test today. it can change your hearing-- and your life-- for the better. (announcer) call now. our simple process can have you hearing better than you ever thought possible. and our full range of products are designed to suit your needs and your budget. people notice my zest for life. my great sense of humor. what sense of humor? people notice my beautiful wife! (announcer) let people see the best in you, nothing more nothing less. try the nearly invisible hearing aid at a nearby miracle-ear location. every miracle-ear hearing aid is backed by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. find out for yourself what has made miracle-ear a household name for better hearing, miracle-ear. what will your miracle sound like? call 1-866-491-4327 to schedule your free hearing test or for a free information kit with complete details about hearing loss and how we can help you. call 1-866-491-hear

to take one of these easy steps toward better hearing. that's 1-866-491-4327 call now! jon: september 11. a time to remember those lost, and a time for a rebirth. the footprints where the world trade center once stood. take a look at a map of the construction site. signs of progress, eight years later. rick leventhal now joins me, and i was saying earlier, this is the first time i can honestly say it really feels like construction is underway here. >> we are actually seeing something rise from what had been up a hit for eight years.

the most significant thing happening right here is this memorials marking the footprints of the two towers. half of this site will be covered by trees, there will be waterfalls and inscriptions of all of the victims' names. next to it is what was known as the freedom tower, now referred to as tower one, rising from the ground. that will rise to 1,776 feet and be completed in 2013, we are told. i talked to larry silverstein, who leased the property six months before the attacks, and he points to tower 7, who he started in 2002 and finished a few years later. he points to it as a sign of success. i asked if he was to blame for

the slow progress at the site. here is what he told me. >> a lot of people say, "you are the villains. you are the reason we do not have the freedom tower." what do you say? obviously, if given the opportunity to do what we are good at doing, we will do it. we have got this building designed, financed, least, and accomplished -- leased, and accomplished. it reflects what could still be done here if given the opportunity to do it. >> he is still in a battle with the port authority of new york and new jersey. jon: share with us some of your memories. you were probably the closest reporter down here to be two towers -- the two towers when

they were hit. >> it did not feel real. the thing i had to remind myself was to do my job, to shelve my motions and put them somewhere else so i could just document the day as much as possible. v were four blocks north of the tower when it fell -- we were four blocks north of the tower when it fell, and it was just the most awful day that i can ever remember, and a day that no one should ever forget and i never will. it just gives me chills. jon: i feel the same way. is a momentous time -- it is a momentous time. when you think about what happened, chills is the word for it.

good to talk to you. thank you. jon: the morning of september 11, 2001, gen l. macmillan was on the 64th floor of the north -- john l. -- janelle macmillan on the 64th floor when the plane hit. she would be the last survivor, pulled from the rubble 27 hours later. she is with us now at ground zero. very good of you to join us on this miserable day. that is probably not be had you would like to be -- that he would like to be wearing, but you borrowed it -- that is probably not the hat you would like to be wearing, but you borrowed it. how do you feel? >> i decided i would just do it.

i would rather be at home with my family, but i said, you know, let me take the opportunity to do it. jon: but you are alive to enjoy this commemoration, and that has got to be a good feeling. >> oh, yes. i am proud to be here. i just thank god for being with me on that day. jon: tell us how it was that you came to be trapped that day. >> i remember being on the 64th floor, heading down to the staircase, and that is when the building collapsed with me on the staircase. and, you know, being stuck for 24 hours, i could not believe it myself. it was unbelievable to me to be alive that day and now i am here to share the story. i was on the 13th staircase.

jon: did you know that it was a collapse? >> no. it happened so quickly. it was just the nick of time. dust, rubble, all coming all at once. just rumbling. jon: so then, you wind up in innoxious pile of rubble. could you move at all? >> i just remember being buried, stuck between the concrete. i lay in that position for several hours until i was rescued. jon: how did they find you? >> they saw a signal on top of the building. i was underneath the rubble. jon: the thought that went

through your mind when you first heard human voices and knew you were going to be saved? >> i heard a voice, and i heard someone call out my name and hold my hand. i knew my purse or answered. jon: -- i knew my prayers were answered. jon: you were one of the few survivors on that terrible day. thank you for sharing your words with us. jane: the 9/11 attacks foreshadowed deadly terror strikes in other parts of the world. london, madrid -- these attacks have changed the way we feel about islamic extremism and the jihad against the west. europeans have experienced a threat since 9/11. are they safer than they were a few years ago?

>> europe has seen a lot of violence, mostly here in london. suicide bombers hitting of the trance -- hitting the transport system in july of 20005. but we learned about a plot to blow up planes going from europe to the united states. that would have been europe's 9/11. there have been at 900 -- 900 arrests, 200 convictions, for terror crimes in the u.k. but it was good police work. sherlock holmes meets the jihad. jane: howard looking at methods now? the same ways? >> muslims are being tracked right now, suspected terrorists.

their cells are being looked at as possible breeding grounds in prison. fears of a mass attack like we saw in the by -- mumbai. and we're seeing that the united kingdom can be a potential or real launching pad for attacks against the united states. that has got authorities looking very closely at the situation. jane: we are going to send you back to jon scott at ground zero. jon: people are sharing many emotional memories, many captured by private citizens never seen before. the national memorial and museum is scourings of the world's work momentos to share with all of us -- scourings of the world for mementos to share with us -- scouring the world for mementos

to share with us. he ran off with his secretary! she's 23 years old! - oh, come on. - enough! you get half and you get half. ( chirp ) team three, boathouse? ( chirp ) oh yeah-- his and hers. - ( crowd gasping ) - ( chirp ) van gogh? ( chirp ) even steven.

- ( chirp ) mansion. - ( chirp ) good to go. ( grunts ) timber! ( chirp ) boss? what do we do with the shih-tzu? - ( crowd gasps ) - ( chirp ) joint custody. - phew! - announcer: get work done now. communicate in less than a second with nextel direct connect. only on the now network. deaf, hard of hearing and people with speech disabilities access www.sprintrelay.com.

what i neednd with nextel direct connect. only on the now network. to control my diabetes, to stay healthy - and get on with my life. it comes from liberty medical. and now, it's not only where i get my diabetes testing supplies - but it's where i get my prescription drugs as well. see if you're on medicare, the cost of your diabetes testing supplies as well as your prescription drugs may be covered. liberty takes care of all the paperwork with medicare and sends the prescription forms directly to your doctor for approval. then, on your schedule, packs up this box and sends it right to your door with no charge for shipping. and liberty assures you have everything you need to

manage your diabetes, including most brand name meters. call now and we'll send you a free meter. plus, a free cookbook when you join. call liberty. they can help you live a better life. call the number on your screen. jon: remember what they wanted to do. the terrorists thought by striking the world trade center, a pentagon, and other places in the country, that they would bring down america. neil cavuto is at the ground zero site with us for some thoughts on that. >> it is interesting. i raised it with mayor

bloomberg and gov. corzine of new jersey that this was a hit on our financial capital as we know it. one of the things we will explore throughout the day is that they did not succeed. the united states still remains the financial engine of the world, and we are going to discuss how we hold on to that. the new york stock exchange never opened that weeks, waiting until the following monday. we took a big hit, sliding a couple of thousand points. but to show us our resilience, the firms that lost so many people here -- we have now more financial companies in lower manhattan and we had back then, even with the layoffs -- then we

had back then -- anthan we had back then, even with the layoffs. it shows our resilience. jon: thank you very much for joining us. jane? jane: what are the lessons of 9/11, and how do we teach them to children too young to recall the a tax -- a tax -- attacks? a curriculum will be tested this school year at schools in seven districts, from new york to california. anthony, thank you for your time today. this is for middle and high school students, a lot of them

too little in 2001 to recall what was going on. this will include challenging images for these kids. what types of images? >> we include all of the archival footage, some of the iconic images that show the destruction and while our nation experienced that day -- and what our nation experienced that day. we need to inspire them and generations to come. many of the students were seven years old, eight years old at the time of the attacks. and soon, we will be community -- communicating to a new generation who was not alive during the attacks. so we want to look at 9/11 as history, as present, as future, with security implications, and

help students to build critical writing skills, critical thinking skills. we have 1000 teachers in the country in the past couple of days who have signed up at our website, learn about -- learnabout911.org. jane: you experimented with a pilot program in one district. but was the reaction to those images that you say are challenging -- what was the reaction to those images you say are challenging? >> reactions have been incredible. it has been piling in -- piloting in schools around the country. teachers know their students better than anyone, so they can determine how much or how little content at a share. the video available on our website right now features a

12-minute remembrancer programmer counting the events of today and the aftermath -- remembrance program accountin g the events of the day and the aftermath. jane: thank you very much for your time today. i know you are hanging on out there. >> it is treacherous out there. i appreciate the opportunity to talk to you. jane: new video of that day is still emerging from all over the world, if you can believe it. we are about to show you pictures you have never seen before. ♪ bicycle, what are we waiting for? the flowers are blooming. the air is sweet.

and zyrtec® starts... relieving my allergies... 2 hours faster than claritin®. my worst symptoms feel better, indoors and outdoors. with zyrtec®, the fastest... 24-hour allergy medicine, i promise not to wait as long to go for our ride. zyrtec® works fast, so i can love the air™. are more than words here. it's personal. i have diabetes. rodney's kid too. so we're so proud to manufacture... the accu-chek® aviva meters and test strips... here in the u.s.a. plus, we've proven you'll waste 50% fewer strips... when you use our meter, which means greater savings... for people with diabetes, like me.

last month, this woman wasn't even able to get around inside of her own home. they chose mobility. and they chose the scooter store! if you or a loved one live with limited mobility call the scooter store! no other company will work harder to make you mobile or do more to guarantee your complete satisfaction. if we pre-qualify you for a new power chair or scooter and your claim isn't approved, the scooter store will give you your power chair or scooter free. that's our guarantee. they were so helpful and nice. they filed all the paperwork, and medicare and my insurance covered the cost. we can work directly with medicare or with your insurance company. we can even help with financing. if there's a way, we'll find it!

so don't wait any longer, call the scooter store today.

jon: as america remembers what happened on september 11, 2001, we are looking at images from eight years ago this morning. i am joining you from ground zero in new york city, one of the attack sites of that date. -- that today -- that day. both towers tumbled. we were thinking that potentially there were as many as 50,000 casualties that date. -- that day. i would like to say that the attacks were spectacularly

unsuccessful for the terrorist to try to strike fear in the hearts of americans -- the terrorists who tried to strike fear in the hearts of americans. i know that could sound insensitive to the families of those killed here at ground zero, but when one thinks about it, so many more people could have been killed. the planes used that they were relatively empty. the wall of the pentagon hit the was in an area that was under construction -- the wall of the pentagon hit was in an area that was under construction, so very few people were there. jane: on the bottom of the screen, we are putting the names of those killed in 9/11 to honor them and remember. there has been controversy about

why something is not in that spot behind you, eight years later. when it do we get a memorial? -- when do we get a memorial ? jon: it is expected in time for the 10-year anniversary of the attacks. there will be a reflecting pool that should be finished. much of the other construction, like the memorial museum, is not going to be ready. but the memorial itself is to be finished within two years. jane: a lot of other news to report on today. we are waiting for the coast guard in two minutes or three minutes or so. they were doing a training

exercise, but there were reports going around that shots had been fired, and it looked very real to those who had seen it. they will explain whether they had gone to the right protocol for letting people know what was -- gone through of the right protocol for letting people know what was going on that day. and a videotape that shows members of acorn instructing people how to break the law.

are working from the road using a mifi-- a mobile hotspot that provides up to five shared wi-fi connections. two are downloading the final final revised final presentation. - one just got an email. - woman: what?! hmph. it's being revised again. the copilot is on mapquest. and tom is streaming meeting psych-up music - from meltedmetal.com. - ( heavy metal music playing ) that's happening now with the new mifi from sprint-- the mobile hotspot that fits in your pocket. sprint. the now network. deaf, hard-of-hearing, and people with speech disabilities access www.sprintrelay.com.

[captioning made possible by fox news channel] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- coast jane: guard admiral john courier is talking about what happened at the pentagon a few hours ago. >> taken out of context. when we have seen is a reaction to a training exercise that

really was just to that. -- just that. people trained on a routine basis. we coordinate it with federal agencies. we develop protection for the national capital region. this being a training exercise in coordination with other federal agencies, i want to re- emphasize that no shots were fired. there was no criminal activity. this was a. -planned -- but preplanned -- preplanned training exercise. i would be happy to answer any questions. >> [inaudible] >> on an open frequency. part of the protocol in training

is fertilization of gunfire and orders -- verbal was asian -- verbalization of gunfire and orders. what we would do encountering an enemy vessel. that was what was going on on the radio. it is a normal technique happening all over the u.s. and major ports -- in major ports where people trained. >> [inaudible] >> the appropriate phrase was set on the radio when the introduction of the boat would have taken place. the president was not here.

he was not near where the training exercise was taking place. there was no notification of secretaries, to my knowledge, because this, as i said, is a routine training. >> [inaudible] >> i am going to take the questions. i promised to get to everybody. -- i promise to get to everybody. >> [inaudible] >> we will look at our procedures and timing. but i will tell you this. we are charged all day, every day, all weather, acting in the maritime interests of this region. we have crews that are highly efficient, and we train every day. i do not think our operations give us any reason not to train today. yes.

>> [inaudible] >> [inaudible] >> anyone with a scanner, just like police have their conversations captured, this was captured. normally, oftentimes we use a channel that can be picked up. that is apparently what happened. >> [inaudible] >> this is a low-profile, normal training exercise going on everyday as we train people to handle the boats, the security

protocol. there is no reason for specific agency notification on an exercise like this. it is a routine, every day event. other agencies, including norad, conduct operations on a daily basis. it is only when they become noticeable to the public that they make these notifications. >> [inaudible] >> as i said before, we have well-timed security protocol for this region. the faa reacted by putting a ground hall on a small number of aircraft at reagan national to sort out information. >> [inaudible]

>> what you would have seen our four -- are four out on the potomac. we have automatic weapons. you would have seen a crew standing by the weapon and simulating the interdiction they would have had, but you would not have heard gunfire, you would not have weapons pointed at anyone or anything of that nature. >> the 14th street bridge -- [inaudible] >> first of all, the training activity is quite removed from the pentagon. but the potomac presents

challenges. for those folks to maneuver at high speed, they need an open portion of the waterway, and that presents the best area, the best routine training area. >> [inaudible] >> no. for special events, we will put a security zone in places. but this morning, there was no sound, no precaution. it was a normal training exercise. >> who would you be alerting that you would be doing this? >> if the zone were established, it would be in concert with the secret service, park police, the other agencies here.

this was a normal training exercise, so there was no coordination. >> [inaudible] >> first of all, our routine training exercises take place approximately four times a week. we do that so our crews can remain proficient. we have protocol, here. and the second part of your question, yes, this is very instructive. we will go back and review our own protocol and procedures, and we also are going to look at how we engage the press. all that will be open and

transparent. we may even ask some of you for advice on how we can do this. >> [inaudible] >> i do not have that. but as part of the training, our normal practice is to articulate rounds fired on the radio so that the timing is proper for the rest of the execution of the maneuvers. but i cannot tell you with certainty. >> [inaudible] >> [inaudible] >> it is very important for

people to maintain proficiency. we will also look at our engagement in the press. i want to reiterate that our young people are entirely proficient, and this was executed it entirely in accordance with their training plan. plan. >> [inaudible]

>> they first come on the radio, even though it is a discreet coast guard frequency, announcing that this is a drill, and exercise. -- an exercise. it is quite possible that they said x number of rounds, but that would have been specifically part of the training scenario. >> [inaudible] >> i cannot confirm or deny. we will go back through this in time and find out exactly what was said. but as part of how we normally train, it is possible that eight rounds or 10 rounds were expended.

but we said that this was a drill. >> [inaudible] >> what you see here is a link between what actually happened and the uncertainty generated by the high-profile press report. >> i know you are not issuing an apology. >> no, i am not. because although it is unfortunate it has escalated to this level, you are seeing the results of a normal training exercise such that when we have a security issue, we need to

come together under a secure protocol and executes security operations very professionally -- execute operations very professionally. >> [inaudible] while our local agencies not in the loop on this -- why are local agencies not in the loop on this? >> the reason is that, just like when the d.c. fire department trends, they do not necessarily notify all other agencies. this was a routine, lower- profile, and normal training exercise that happened to be a video intercept that generated intense interest, and justifiably so.

>> what agencies were alerted in advance? >> to my knowledge, none. >> [inaudible] >> [inaudible] >> i mentioned before, we're going to look at our messaging and to try and find out how we can better do business to assure that this does not happen in the future. i understand that we are not the operational commander. the training plan was approved,

as routinely happens, and it was executed. >> here in washington, where they notified at the department of homeland security? [inaudible] >> no, nor would they normally be. we have an agency, and this blow-tempo, low-profile exercise does not garner national control. >> [inaudible] >> we are going to take a good look at what we did here today and it sure that if we need to modify procedures, if we need to modify notification, we will do so. >> [inaudible] >> there are recordings of some of it. i am not sure at this point how much.

but i'm sure that in working with the press office, someone will be happy to talk to you about it. >> [inaudible] >> i have not heard the tapes. normal procedure is to announce that this is a drill. i have no indication that that was a in an event. we have highly disciplined people, and i would say with all level of confidence that that would have been enough before and after the exercises commenced. >> [inaudible] >> i am not sure why that is. i think somebody probably intercepted a transmission and a discreet frequency that caused great concern. i do not know where it went from there.

>> i will be taking the rest of your questions off to the site. the admiral does have to get going. thank you. jane: no apology, but an explanation for some panic on the river this morning as the president was at the pentagon for one of the 9/11 ceremonies there. the admiral explained that there was an open radio frequency, and someone over hood the words -- overheard the words "bang bang." that translated to shots fired on the potomac river. that got out to the media, and it became such a big story that even the faa halted ground plans that reagan airport nearby. it turns out that this is just a routine exercise with no shots fired. the admiral was asked if 9/11 was the best they to do the

exercise, and he said we are charged with security every day, it was a routine exercise, no need to notify other agencies. more to come on that. jon: events around the country marking eight years since the devastating attacks on america. [bugle plays 'taps.'] jon: the memorial began at the time the first plane hit the first tower.

as the president spoke, thousands were gathering at ground zero in new york to honor the thousands killed. this year, the names of the victims read by family members and volunteers. another moment of silence at the moment the second plane hit the south tower. at 9:37, another moment of silence in virginia. at that moment, fight 77 crashed in the western the side of the pentagon and 184 people

perished. at 9:59, of fourth moment of silence marking the time that the south tower fell. rudy giuliani addressed the mourners. flight 93 passengers honored for averting what could have been a deadly attack, like the targeting the white house or capitol building. a ground breaking in shanksville, pennsylvania, for a permanent memorial for the heroes of flight 93. 10:29 a.m., the moment the north tower fell. we will be right back. (mom) he needed everything for college:

towels, sheets and then there was the stuff he wanted... like a new microwave. and because of walmart's unbeatable prices, we were able to get it all. ...and then some. set them up for success-- for less. save money. live better. walmart. diabetics on medicare. hello, i'm john fox---you may know that i'm a

professional bass fisherman. but you may not know that i have diabetes. and it's never slowed me down thanks to the good folks at liberty medical. i've been a liberty medical patient for years and have relied on them for all my diabetic needs. and, if you call now you'll receive a free meter. it's easy to use with fast results. even the shipping is free and medicare may cover the cost of your other supplies. liberty medical keeps you on track by delivering diabetic supplies right to your door. they even take care of the paperwork, file your claims and send you a free meter. call right now and they'll also send you a free diabetic cookbook. diabetes doesn't have to slow you down. join me and over a million people who trust liberty medical.

jane: our next guest was on the commission that warned of pearl harbor-scale attack 15 months before the 9/11 attack. he also lost nearly 300 employees when the north tower was hit. the former chair of the national commission on terrorism is with us. just hours after these attacks, you were out there saying the possibility we should be looking at is osama bin laden. what are your eyes on today? >> we have to be the most concerned about the 9/11 extremists. as president obama pointed out two weeks ago, those people are still planning to attack us

again, and if we will stop them, we have to prevent the attacks. jane: are we doing enough? >> in the 1990's, the government imposed severe restrictions on the cia. they had to go through a bureaucratic jungle gym to get approval. and we took testimony from employees. what worries me today is that there is a tendency again to politicize and try and tied the intelligence agents in a legal straitjacket. i think that would be a big mistake. jane: we cannot take our eyes

off afghanistan and pakistan. that poses a big threat. and we saw top democrats, including carl levin, saying he is against funding troops in afghanistan until we find a way to speed up our training of the security forces. we see support dwindling for the efforts in afghanistan, and we're waiting to see what the president will do. is that a mistake, to let down our guard? >> i have great respect for chairman 11, but on this one, we have to speed up the training of the security forces and add more troops. this is a lesson from iraq the search. -- surge. it is a dangerous world out there, with people who want to do us great harm. if we are going to defeat them, we need to continue to work with

our brave and women in the armed forces and intelligence agencies. jane: i know this is not an easy question to answer. but how can we prepare? what should we keep doing? >> it is no coincidence that we're safe. we are sick because of brave men and women, and because we went on the offensive. the restrictions placed on intelligence agencies in the 1990's that the national commission talked-about were alleviated, and we took the brothel abroad, to afghanistan and eventually to iraq. -- we took the battle abroad, off to afghanistan and eventually to iraq. we have got to meet these people in the field where they are doing their planning.

jane: 84 thoughts. >> nice to be with you. jon: 25 minutes after noon here on the east coast. live pictures from ground zero, where loved ones continue to pay tribute to those they lost on 9/11 this day eight years ago. at the bottom of your screen, we're showing you the names of the victims who perished on that awful day. my identity was stolen when i was eight years old,

and we didn't find out until i was going to get... my driver's permit at fifteen, seven months. i think the stories that affect me the most... are the ones i hear from children. they go off to start off in life, and by no fault of their own, they're already in a hole. you're supposed to, uh, protect your children. it's hard to protect them from an identity theft when... you don't know who's out there doing it. so how do you protect them from an unknown source? i just couldn't believe it and i was really... frustrated and just... flabbergasted, i guess. security. peace of mind. protection. that's what lifelock provides. to this day we don't know the damage... that's been done to his credit. now we gotta go get my credit fixed... and get it back to where it's just nothing. i was told that i could write a letter... to the credit reporting bureau,

or to write it to all three, 'cause some get it reported, some don't. the one thing i would tell you is take action. learn what you can do for yourself for free, or look at a service, in detail, like lifelock, who can be there for you, put that frontline of defense, and have a $1 million guarantee. parents need to realize that this can happen to you. it's my identity, and i don't like people... messing with my stuff. protect yourself, your family, and all you've worked hard for. take control of your identity. protect yourself with lifelock's... proactive protection and our $1 million... total service guarantee. security. peace of mind. protection. that's what lifelock provides. you can take control of your identity. call now for special savings and we'll also give you... 30 days to try lifelock absolutely free. call now and mention id. call now or go to lifelock.com.

♪

jane: new developments today and new undercover video of workers from the committee acorn as a filmmakers investigation continues to raise questions. james o'keefe is a visiting an acorn office in washington d.c., accompanied by a friend posing as a prostitute. the results are pretty much the same as those from the baltimore office. acorn workers offer advice on how to hide her profession and get a loan for housing to set up their business. there has been following this. -- eric has been following this. >> we saw them giving this suppose a prostitute and her

friend advice on how to scan the government on a prostitution ring. the two baltimore workers were fired late afternoon, saying they did not meet acorn's standards of professionalism, and they called the video an attempt to smear acorn. but two workers at a different office basically did the same thing. this video shows people in washington d.c. telling the same story. they want a loan for a house to be used as a brothel. acorn advised them to hide the business from authorities, a mask the money as legitimate income, and not tell the truth to police. >> i do not know if you allow --

>> if you don't tell us, we cannot help you. >> my friend is a prostitute. >> ok. >> [inaudible] . they do not want to know where your money is coming from. they just want to know about the money brought into the bank. >> the filmmakers a 25-year-old conservative activist, accompanied by his friend, played the prostitute -- his friend, who played a prostitute. a spokesman for acorn says that they need to see the full transcript of the washington office before they will be able to comment further. fox did come up in these tapes.

at one point, an acorn representatives tells them to keep this low-key, that there are nosy neighbors. she told them that eventually someone would pick up the phone and call fox. jon: at the bottom of the screen, you are seeing the names of the victims of the 9/11 attacks. wheat continue to remember 9/11. stronger than some of the perfect images those days -- some of the images those days is the commitment. president obama asked to renew that commitment. >> we can summon much more than ordinary goodness of america to

serve our communities, strengthen our country, better our world. jon: this year, 9/11 will be officially recognized as an official day of service and rembrandt's -- remembrance, a day that began with the edward kennedy act, urging everybody to get involved. join us now is the acting ceo for the corporation for national and community service, and standing here -- you live in this area at the time of the attacks. volunteerism is very important to you. tell us about your good deed. >> "my good deed" was established eight years ago by two gentlemen. one lost his brother, a volunteer firefighter. the mission is to keep that idea

of service alive, and this is an important year for us, the first federal year that 9/11 is deemed a national day of service. jon: talk about the fact that so many people turned out after the attacks to do something, help their country. are we still seeing a turn out for that kind of commitment? >> we remember the love was lost, the outpouring of generosity and the spirit that day and beyond, and we are continuing to see high levels of volunteering across the country. this summer, he watched the united we serve the initiative, calling on all americans to serve our communities in these tough times of need. today, 9/11, coming out is a way to remember the victims and make

a commitment to keep serving. jon: i will give you a soap box here for a minute to tell people what they can do three or website -- through your web site. >> everyone, we encourage you to sign up online and enter the good deed you plan on doing today. as you know, the theme is that you never forget. by doing your good deed, i guarantee you, you'll never forget the feeling of accomplishment you received from that and whoever you help will never forget you. you will always be in their hearts. jon: final thought from you? we do want to remember those people, and far better to remember them by volunteering or doing something for the country that wallowing in misery, isn't it?

>> yes. this is a fitting way to remember those who perished that day. it is the culmination of years of work started by the families of 9/11 and the 9/11 community who saw this as an a proper way to pay tribute to everyone involved that day and beyond. jon: on this day of service and remembrance, the uso and hundreds of volunteers who went to the top of building seven at the site of the world trade center to pack care packages for troops in iraq. take a look. 600 feet above the memorial under construction in the footprint of the north tower, the first hit in 9/11, this skyscraper we're in has been rebuilt since the attacks. a giant, empty room at this point, not quite ready for occupancy, but to date filled with hundreds of volunteers who have come here for a special purpose.

>> a small army, executing their mission with military precision. they stand shoulder-to-shoulder, supporting the troops that fight the battle that began here eight years ago. more than 300 pairs of eager american hands, putting bags with item small and ordinary on the battlefield. candy, snacks, sunblock, a paperback, toilet paper. from all walks of life, they are here. cops and firefighters, construction workers, office workers, each deeply affected. >> lost 100 employees that day. i was in the building, but i got out. >> even a boat of navy sailors. they could be doing anything

out, but they wanted to lend a hand. >> it is our turn to give back. >> bryan lost his brother at the world trade center. he will fly over ground zero in eight planned. despite the solemn nature of this day, be happy. jon: as the father of a west point cadet who was 18 years old at the time, i just want to say shatter out -- a shout out to the folks at the uso and

volunteers who staff 5000 bags for our troops yesterday. jane: my husband went to iraq and afghanistan with the u.s. last summer, and it changed his life, certainly. i echo that incredible work. thank you to the volunteers, also. a bit of other news. where are the details? that is what lawmakers are asking the white house about health care reform. they want to know specifically how we will pay for this plan. a fair and balanced debate coming your way. gecko vo: you see, it's not just telling people geico could save 'em hundreds on car insurance. it's actually doing it. gecko vo: businessmen say "hard work equals success." well, you're looking at, arguably, the world's most successful businessgecko.

gecko vo: first rule of "hard work equals success." gecko vo: that's why geico is consistently rated excellent or better in terms of financial strength. gecko vo: second rule: "don't steal a coworker's egg salad, 'specially if it's marked "the gecko." come on people.

caused by a completely blocked artery, another heart attack could lurking waiting to strike. a heart attack caused by a clot, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix taken with other heart medicines, goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone, to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. ask your doctor about plavix, protection that helps save lives. if you have a stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding you should not use plavix. taking plavix alone or with some other medicines including aspirin may increase bleeding risk, tell your doctor before planning surgery or taking aspirin or other medicines with plavix, especially if you've had a stroke. some medicines that are used to treat heartburn or stomach ulcers,

like prilosec, may affect how plavix works, so tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines. if fever, unexplained weakness or confusion develops, tell your doctor promptly. these may be signs of ttp, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition reported sometimes less than 2 weeks after starting plavix. other rare but serious side effects may occur. if you take plavix with other heart medicines, continuing to do so will help increase protection against a future heart attack or stroke. feeling better doesn't mean you're not at risk. stay with plavix. jane: as president made it clear in his health care plan this week, and the overhaul will not add a dime to the deficit. critics would like to see the details. we have a former press secretary

to trent lott, as taylor was, a democratic media consultant. is it clear to the people how this will happen? >> it is remarkable that eight months into his administration, president obama is forced to give a make-or-break speech on health care, and he did not. he gave broad themes, but lawmakers now are asking where are the specifics, how much is this going to cost, and what is happening. president obama needs to provide those details to win lawmakers' over. it was definitely not something that would win people over, and i think you'll see a backslide from democratic lawmakers in days to come. jane: some say that this is deliberate.

>> i think the president did what he needed to do, laying out a strong, structured design of what his plan would look like, and he specifically said his expectation of what it would cost over the next 10 years and talked about a lot of ways we would pay for this, including ideas from the democratic and republican sides of the aisle. he now will sit at the table with an open door so that all ideas can be hashed out. jane: the president's job is to steer the boat, not row the boat. >> we have been talking this issue to death, as the president said, and he said it is time for details. you are seeing what is happening.

democrats on both sides of the aisle, blue dogs as well as other democrats are saying how much is this point to cost, can we pay for a public option? it will be hard for obama to win over lawmakers. well it boosts morale, next week you'll see a huge black side -- backslide and we will be back to square one. the devil is in the details. harry reid says we will get the bill done by thanksgiving, but i find that highly unlikely. jane: last word goes to you. >> i think what we saw in his speech were more ideas that will not necessarily get into the bill, and that is what this is about, putting the ideas on the table. now we have a chance to pick and

choose and get the right plan in place. make no mistake. we are covering uninsured americans right now and the most expensive, least efficient way possible. jane: good to see you. thanks. new word on just how effective the h1n1 vaccine may be. you may have heard that you will need two doses. a lot of questions about whether there will be enough to go around. we're told today that it is possible one dose may be enough. will you be able to get it? . upbeat rock ♪ singer:wanted to get myself a new cell phone ♪ ♪ so i could hear myself as a ringtone ♪ ♪ who knew the store would go and check my credit score ♪ ♪ now all they let me have is this dinosaur ♪ ♪ hello hello hello can anybody hear me? ♪

♪ i know i know i know i shoulda gone to ♪ ♪ free credit report dot com! ♪ that's where i shoulda gone! coulda got my knowledge on! ♪ ♪ vo: free credit score and report with enrollment in triple advantage. are more than words here. it's personal. i have diabetes. rodney's kid too. so we're so proud to manufacture... the accu-chek® aviva meters and test strips... here in the u.s.a. plus, we've proven you'll waste 50% fewer strips... when you use our meter, which means greater savings... for people with diabetes, like me.

last month, this woman wasn't even able to get around inside of her own home. they chose mobility. and they chose the scooter store! if you or a loved one live with limited mobility call the scooter store! no other company will work harder to make you mobile or do more to

guarantee your complete satisfaction. if we pre-qualify you for a new power chair or scooter and your claim isn't approved, the scooter store will give you your power chair or scooter free. that's our guarantee. they were so helpful and nice. they filed all the paperwork, and medicare and my insurance covered the cost. we can work directly with medicare or with your insurance company. we can even help with financing. if there's a way, we'll find it! so don't wait any longer, call the scooter store today. [captioning made possible by fox news channel] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- jane: some new findings have been released confirming that

one dose of this vaccine for h1n1 should be enough, it looks like. the national institutes of health is saying that a single shot is expected to take effect within eight to 10 days. scientists were concerned that the doses would be needed, if there would be enough of it to go around. what does this mean for the supply and distribution of the vaccine? >> it is certainly good news. shortages in vaccine supply would be far less likely. it means it would reduce the cost and inconvenience of getting to vaccines. americans would be developing immunity how far faster than originally expected. originally, there would be a three-week waiting time. what they are finding now is that grown-ups, at least are developing immunity within eight to 10 days after that initial

dose. jane: if people get this shot, it does not mean that they are off the hook for their regular flu shot, is that right? >> that is right. according to another study, the vaccine for the two viruses offer very little if any crossover protection. even though you may only need one dose of the h1n1 vaccine, you probably also need a single dose of regular seasonal flu vaccine. jane: we will take you back to ground zero. jon: they ran into the burning skyscrapers to save anyone they could. 343 new york city firefighters died when this winter -- when the twin towers collapsed. one firefighter who was right there survived. he will share his story with us next. medicare.

it doesn't cover everything.

and what it doesn't cover can cost you some money. that's why you should consider... an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan... insured by united healthcare insurance company. it can help cover some of what medicare doesn't... so you could save up to thousands of dollars... in out-of-pocket expenses. call now for this free information kit... and medicare guide. if you're turning 65 or you're already on medicare, you should know about this card; it's the only one of its kind... that carries the aarp name -- see if it's right for you. you choose your doctor. you choose your hospital. there are no networks and no referrals needed. help protect yourself from some of what medicare doesn't cover. save up to thousands of dollars... on potential out-of-pocket expenses... with an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan... insured by united healthcare insurance company. call now for your free information kit... and medicare guide and find out... how you could start saving.