What those 40 passengers and crew on Flight 93 prevented, we may never know, but we are pretty certain the target of that hijacked flight was the Capitol. Both houses of congress were in session that day. Had the hijackers succeeded, the legislative branch of our federal government might have been wiped out, and with that, our girl. The heroes of Flight 93 very probably saved our senators, representatives, their staffs, and all who were visiting the Capitol that day. Bill Clinton knows what might have been lost that day. He knows who might have been among the casualties. Today he joined President George W Bush and Vice President Biden to dedicate a memorial to the heroes of Flight 93.
George W. Bush gave a lovely and touching speech. Quite eloquent and elegant. He rightly pointed out that these 40 people were the first troops in a new war that was only an hour old. They knew what was happening, took a vote, and acted. It was an example of democracy at its best.
Bill Clinton, as we know, seems unable to make a public declaration without mentioning Hillary. He cannot resist talking about her which is completely understandable. Today he began his statement saying that she came home yesterday with eyes red from crying after spending the day in NYC. Yes, as Senator from N.Y. she represented a constituency attacked that day and made her way home as quickly as she could to attend to those she represented. Bill Clinton is in Shanksville today honoring these heroes who very probably saved her for him and for us. He concluded his speech rather casually announcing that in the moments before the ceremony he and John Boehner agreed to mount a bipartisan fund raiser to collect the $10 million dollars needed to finish this memorial. In typical Clinton fashion, leading by example, he taught a mini-lesson in reaching across the aisle.
Vice President Biden spoke forcefully and as elegantly as both former Presidents. This was a very touching ceremony. I found it disconcerting that MSNBC chose the term "victims" in their little floating graphic on the screen. If there is any message we are to come away with today, it is that these citizens stepped up to the plate, made the hard decision, and fought back for their country. They were not victims. They were the best of the best. They were heroes.
