and hoda and savannah and jenna, here is a day where a former president of the united states has basically just rebuked t majority of the party, republican party, who twice nominated him for president. many of the things he was denouncing are now beliefs in the republican party that are a majority that voted for donald trump in 2016 and 2020 when trump lost, and even included some people who attacked the capitol and the congress on the 6th of january of this year. it's like the person who once said, you live long enough, you get to see everything. you never would have imagined, or at least i wouldn't, that we would get to a day where george w. bush would feel so strongly about what's happened to his party and what's happened to his country that he would say this on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. this was a speech we will remember and read and should be taken to heart. >> certainly a speech that

dipped into the past but was very present in terms of the environment. >> in fairness, michael, we'll let you have that bit of analysis andy card former chief of staff, never off duty certainly a rebuke for politics, no question. he did have tough words for the way politics is conducted in this country in 2021. >> i think he was calling us to a higher position of respect in our democracy. i don't view that as chastising. i think he was really kind of being a leader and a conscience. he has introduced a new conscience to us think about what you're saying think about what you're doing. can't we be better, people aren't we better than that and he was always for that. >> seems like unity has been the theme today.

i was thinking about the indication we heard, everybody come together. you can view it as political or not political. i was nodding my head when i was listening, thinking, can't we all just get along it's a perfect day to remember what it was like and also a perfect day to come together michael, look, you are a student of history you know how things can unfold can you actually forsee esee a when we can can all get together at a table, hold hands >> i would love nothing better i'm not sure it's going to happen this was 20 years ago. toxic political environment, al gore just ran against george bush contested election despite all of that, 9/11 happens and country unites and the loser, al gore, gives a speech saying i support george

w. bush. he's my president. that's the way it has been for most american history. in unity there is strength sadly, there is considerable reason to think that what president bush said today is absolutely right we have strayed much too far from our origins, which are to include and to unify when president bush was talking about, for instance, people who turned their back on refugees and immigrants, he was not talking about the democratic pa party. >> we're looking at a split screen, the reading of the names continue at the world trade center and in shanksville, pennsylvania, vice president harris is taking the podium. >> good morning. good morning president bush, it's my honor to be on this stage with you, and mrs. laura bush. thank you, president bush, for your words they are as resonant today as the words you spoke 20 years ago. governor tom wolfe, superintendent stephen clark,

madam secretary, and the president of the families of flight 93, gordon felt, it is truly an honor to be with all of you at this field of honor we are joined, of course, by the family and friends of the 40 passengers and crew members of flight 93. we stand today with all those who lost someone on september 11th, 2001, and in the aftermath of the attacks so many in our nation, too many in our nation, have deeply felt the passage of time these last 20 years every birthday your loved one missed, every holiday, every time her favorite team won or his favorite song came on the radio. every time you've tucked in your children or dropped them off at

college, you have felt every day, every week and every year that has passed these 20 years so, please know, your nation sees you and we stand with you, and we support you we are gathered today on h hallowed ground at this place that has been sanctified by sacrifice, to honor the heroism that the 40 passengers and crew mem members showed in the face of grave terrorism. i remember when i first learned about what happened on that fateful flight what happened on flight 93 told us then, and it still tells us so much about the courage of those on board, who gave everything they possibly could, about the resolve of the first

responders who risked everything, and about the resilience of the american people on this 20th anniversary, on this solemn day of remembrance, we must challenge ourselves, yes, to look back, to remember for the sake of our children, for the sake of their children, and for that reason we must look forward. we must also look toward the future, because in the end, i do believe that is what the 40 were fighting for, their future and o ours on the days that followed september 11th, 2001, we were all reminded that unity is possible in america.

we were reminded also that unity is imperative in america it is essential to our shared prosperity, to our national security, and to our standing in the world. and by unity, i don't mean uniformity we had differences of opinion in 2001, as we do in 2021 and i believe that in america, our diversity is our strength. at the same time, we saw after 9/11 how fear can be used to sew division in our nation as people were targeted because

of how they looked or how they worshipped but we saw how so many americans, in the spirit o our nation, stand in solidarity with all people and their fellow americans, with those who experienced violence and discrimination when we stand together and looking back, we remember the vast majority of americans were unified in purpose, to help fa families heal, to help communities recover, to defend our nation and to keep us safe in a time of outright terror, we turned toward each other in the face of a stranger, we saw a neighbor and a friend. that time reminded us the

significance and the strength of our unity as americans and that it is possible in america. so, moments from now, we will leave this hallowed place, still carrying with us the pain of this loss, this tremendous loss. and still the future will continue to unfold we will face new challenges, challenges that we could not have seen 20 years ago we will seize opportunities that were, at one time, unimaginable. and we know that what lies ahead is not certain it is never certain. it has never been. but i know this. if we do the hard work of working together as americans,

if we remain united in purpose, we will be prepared for whatever comes next the 40 passengers and crew members of flight 93, as we all know, they didn't know each other. most of them didn't know each other. they were different people from different places they were on that particular flight for different reasons but they did not focus on what may separate us. no they focused on what we all share, on the humanity we all share. in a matter of minutes in the most dire of circumstances, the 40 responded as one. they fought for their own lives and to save the lives of

countless others at our nation's capitol. after today, it is my hope and prayer that we continue to honor their courage, their conviction with our own that we honor their unity by strengthening our common bonds, by strengthening our global partnerships, and by always living out our highest ideals. this work will not be easy it never has been. and it will take all of us believing in who we are as a nation and it will take all of us going forth to work together thank you all. may god bless you and may god bless america. thank you. >> vice president kamala harris

wrapping up her remarks at the memorial in shanksville, pennsylvania again, as so many have remarked today, speaking to the unity of the american people and the potential for, you know, further unity, but certainly paying tribute to those who lost their lives, the heroes of flight 93, that plane crashing in shanksville, pennsylvania. the terrorist unsuccessful in getting into its intended target in washington. >> let's bring you back here to new york and turn to rehema ellis, who has been following what's been a very, very emotional day right here in new york city. hey, rehema. >> reporter: hey there, hoda it is a traditional here in new york that happens now every year for the last 20 years since 9/11, of families coming together and remembering their loved ones, reminding themselves of what they don't have anymore. and that makes this a very painful experience for people. they were pleased that the president, president biden and dr. jill biden, came here, as

was the case for former presidents obama and clinton it's notable that none of them spoke. in part, i think it's out of reverence to the families, the tradition that's happen ing now, the reading of the names that lost their lives here 20 years ago and to implicate the magnitude of this, it takes hours to read nearly 3,000 names, but people are doing it, in part, because they say this is an opportunity for them to do what they promised some 20 years ago. and when they made a vow to never forget hoda >> rehema ellis. rehema, thank you very much. >> one of the many correspondents for nbc news who is right here at the scene of the world trade center at those very moments on that day and no company was hit harder than keterring fitzgerald 658 people of that firm died in

the north tower. howard, you, along with your sister, edie, have spent the last 20 years rebuilding this company and staying close with the families who lost loved ones, including you. you lost your brother. how are you feeling on this beautiful september day that reminds us of that day >> i can't stop having goosebumps when they rang the bell of when the first plane hit, i immediately looked to the sky and thought of all my friends, 658 people people don't think about how much they love the people they work with. you guys sit next to each other. i don't think you think that you love each other. but do you know what if you were all ripped apart, your insides would shred that's what happened to us we had a crazy policy at our firm we only wanted to hire people that we liked. so, everybody hired in friends think about how rough that was. >> what do you remember most of that day >> i took my son to his first day of kindergarten. that's what i was doing.

i am alive because it was his first day. we took that picture with his little wet behind the ears -- >> those moments of fate. >> that's where i was. they told me a plane had hit the building i thought it was a piper, little -- i didn't see a picture of it. i came right down to the building i was grabbing people as they came out, asked them what floor they were on, hoping -- there was a lot of doors to the trade center i was hoping someone from my floor came out that door they would have come out all the doors, on the 92nd floor then i heard the loudest sound i ever heard i started running. i didn't know what i was running from i was standing there it overwhelmed me, this wild black cloud. >> you're talking about when the second tower came down >> when the first one wam down i ran the right way. i had run the other way, i would have gotten killed

think about it someone said don't you feel lucky? i lost all my friends. >> i was thinking about that, survivor's guilt you had your brother who passed and so many others how do you deal with that? >> first off, it's huge, survivor's guilt what i did was try to turn it into what could i do >> yeah. >> these families, 658 families, there's no donation that i could make that would make a difference if you divide it by 658. we had to rebuild the company. here was the idea. i said to all of our emp employees -- we had a call i said look, the people who are alive, we can either go to our friends funerals, 20 funerals a day for 35 straight days, just pulverizing. brothers we had a pair of sisters die you go to the funeral, your insides are finished finished or we have to work harder than we ever work ed before. the only reason to do it is to take care of those families. imagine going to work. i don't want to go work. everybody agreed to give 25% of

their salary, of their pay like literally of their pay. and then we would hire new people and say i would love to hire you for $200,000, but you have to agree to $150,000, and we're going to send $50,000 to the families because of that, people wonder how are you able to give the families $180 million? we didn't earn profits this was the souls of the incredible people who joined cantor fitzgerald. how incredible they are. what new person joins the firm and gives 25% of their pay to these families i'm the proudest ceo people say you did a wonderful thing. no, no i stood on the most incredible employees' shoulders, and they helped stitch together my insides and give me my life back. >> an incredible journey you've been on. >> howard, that was beautiful. beautiful. >> we're with you and the families today you're about to speak, meet with them, share lunch and wrap your

arms around them, as you have in every year since and every day thank you for your time and your memories on a really hard day. >> we really appreciate it. >> beautiful families. and i appreciate you guys doing this the never forget line, it just -- they just want to make sure that people know how difficult this was. e' gngo veo gn>>reoi tha tsi w

a jet just crashed into the world trade center. >> a plane has just crashed into the world trade center. >> i'm so worried about you. where are you? >> one of the darkest days in modern american history. 20 years ago this morning, today, we look back on the lives lost and the heroes who emerged on september 11th, 2001. good morning, i'm kira klapper. thank you for joining us on

saturday, september 11th. two decades ago when our nation was forever changed. we want to take you live to the ceremony in new york, in washington, dc, and in pennsylvania. happening now at the sites where all four hijacked planes crashed. the coordinated terror attacks took the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent victims. this morning, we pause to reflect and to remember and honor those taken much too soon. here in the bay area, there will be several events to commemorate 9/11 today. today in the bay, tom jensen in the mission district to report for us. good morning to you, tom. >> reporter: good morning. yes, this ceremony was about the firefighters and honor for all the victims, but especially for

the firefighters. more than 340 of them who lost their lives that very day on 9/11 trying to rescue people in the twin towers. so many losing their lives later to cancer and other illnesses in the effort in the recovery there at ground zero. this ceremony was for all of them. >> gary p. guidel. >> reporter: the names of all firefighters who lost their lives, sacrifices. their families still deal with today. the last name you heard was gary gidel, new york rescue one

firefighter who was just four shifts from retirement when he died in the rescue efforts in the south tower on 9/11. his brother ralph also retired firefighter was living in northern california at the time. he was determined to get back to ground zero to find his brother gary alive at first and then to find his remains and spent nine months there recovering remains of dozens of victims at ground zero. so many personal stories including a new york native who lived right here in this neighborhood where fire station 7 is located. she comes to the ceremony every year. has for the past 20 years. we're working on her story coming up later on today on nbc bay area and nbcbayarea.com. we're live in san francisco. thom jensen, in the bay. >> thank you for that perspective from this morning's event. four hijacked airliners, one on its way here to the bay area. united flight 93. the brave crew members and

passengers heroically diverted to an empty field in pennsylvania. we have a look at that field where the plane crashed in rural shanksville, pennsylvania. this event just ended. former president george bush just spoke. it departed on the way to s fo. one of the passengers was mark bingham, a graduate of uc berkeley. bingham among those who fought back against the hijackers who believed intended to crash that flight in washington, dc. everyone on board including those four hijackers died. bingham has since been recognized by the bay area, by the nation, and by the lgbtq community for his bravery. his friends are ensuring his legacy isn't forgotten. >> that one little act that him and the passengers of flight 93 saved the whole lot of lives afterwards. so let's celebrate that.

let's not cry. >> i hope the gay hero part of it goes away, although it's important, we fight to get to a point where it's like, okay, he's a hero. that's the end of the story. >> happening today, the veterans support will host a ceremony at the flame of liberty memorial. los gatos civic center. the victims will be honored including mark bingham who we just mentioned and todd beamer. another graduate, famous for telling phone operators and his fellow passengers, quote, let's roll, before storming the hijackers in the cockpit. we're going to check in now with meteorologist for those who want to attend the remembrances and the day of service and give back to the bay area community today.

hi vianey. >> absolutely. it's going to be one of those days where the sunshine is going to be shining. look at the clear skies over to. this is a live look right now. so we've got good start when it comes to the weather conditions. also, we're expecting to be a little bit cooler in through the coastline but warmer in inland area. beautiful views there. something else you're going to notice will be the better air quality. we're expecting to see clearing conditions and i do want to take you through your morning and livermore. 86 degrees around the coastline through the peninsula. in the 70s and then down through the south bay. take a look at morgan hill. 86 degrees. san jose, 81. mostly sunny with better air quality today. just a little bit of fog around the coastline. i'll have the full forecast coming up in just a few minutes.

that was the young people chorus of new york city singing the national anthem right before the names of victims were read at ground zero in new york city. president biden and former president barack obama and bill clinton were all in the crowd of mourners paying their respects. that's where we find nbc's jay gray at the freedom tower with more on the mourning. >> very difficult to very emotional day for so many across the country including here at ground zero where thousands continued to gather. president biden, the first lady, starting their day here with former presidents obama and

clintons taking part in the ceremony here. very respectful. very somber ceremony. highlighted by the readings of the names of those lost family members. reading those names aloud and pausing when they get to the person that they lost to share stories and talk about who the person was to put a face on the nearly 3,000 who died in those terror attacks two decades ago. not only a memorial here but also obviously at the pentagon where there was a moment of silence followed by taps at the time. plane struck there 9:37 in the morning. in shanksville, pennsylvania, where the passengers took over that flight that was reportedly bound for washington as well by terrorists taking it down in a rural field, remembering the 40 on that flight that sacrificed all to save others. a message that resounds today as well. we talk a lot about the pain, the emotions that linger 20

years later. i don't believe we talk enough about the unity and feeling of togetherness that came after those attacks. people bonding together in the fight against terror and in the healing process. a process that obviously continues right now. a lot of the speakers today making a call for that unity to come back to our country and to be a part of moving forward as the tribute, honor to those lost and this day like so many before it, honoring that promise that was made on the day of the attacks that we would never forget and always let the world know that this will never happen again. it's something that is playing out today and see moving forward. that's the latest right now here in new york. i'm jay gray. wakt. back to you. >> thousands called in the days and weeks following the collapse of the twin towers where jay

gray was reporting for us. among them, the chief of the menlo park fire protection district. we spoke with him, the now retired chief holleman, leader with the search and rescue task force and led california task force 3. just five days after 9/11. he led 60 firefighters from the peninsula to ground zero. they worked for 14 days straight sifting through debris looking for survivors and recovering bodies. a hunting memory. remembers how new york felt during that time. >> the eyes are the windows to the soul. there's the level of despair, profound sadness, shock, and then resilience. >> it was such a dangerous assignment. left behind dna samples with another attack or building collapse in case the