Transcript
A gray Pennsylvania State Police patch slowly grows larger on a black background. Lieutenant Colonel George L. Bivens is seated in front of the U.S flag, the Seal of the State Police, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania flag. A title introduces him as the Acting Commissioner.
(Bivens) Twenty-five years ago, our nation experienced a day that changed us forever.
Various scenes from September 11, 2001 are seen in sequence: a plane hitting the World Trade Center tower, smoke coming from the Pentagon, a firehose stream into black smoke, smoke pouring from the World Trade Center buildings, firefighters carrying a stretcher, damage at the Pentagon, a large U.S. flag being draped over the side of the Pentagon, and the crash site at Shanksville.
(Bivens) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four airliners and took the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent people. Families were devastated, communities were forever changed, and our nation was forced to confront the worst act of terrorism ever on American soil. I was assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and like so many others that morning, I saw the news reports of the planes striking the World Trade Center towers. It quickly became clear that our nation was under attack.
Various scenes from September 11, 2001 are seen in sequence: smoke pouring from the World Trade Center buildings, a firehose stream into the Pentagon, and an aerial scene of the Pentagon.
(Bivens) Immediately, we began working with our federal partners, trying to understand what was happening and determine what other flights might be affected. We were receiving intelligence and trying to piece together what was unfolding. Then my phone rang. It was a trooper at the Somerset station.
Governor Tom Ridge views the Shanksville crash site from a helicopter window. A plume of smoke rises behind a farm in a still photo.
(Bivens) He told me that a plane had gone down in a field near Shanksville.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Paul Evanko looks out the window of a helicopter.
(Bivens) Everything changed at that moment.
Governor Ridge, Colonel Evanko, and Pennsylvania National Guard Commander Major General William Lynch walk in tall grass with a Chinook helicopter and Guardsman in the background. Colonel Evanko walks and talks with two other PSP officers. A PSP mobile command post is shown. PSP vehicles and Troopers are seen from the air. A group of Troopers arrive by bus.
(Bivens) We immediately established a command post and began surging resources to support the troopers who were arriving at the scene. I responded to Shanksville. The devastation I observed when I arrived was almost incomprehensible. Twenty-five years later, the memories of what I witnessed and the people I encountered remain with me.
Various vehicles and people are shown as a vehicle drives into the Shanksville site operations area. A lone PSP patrol vehicle is parked in a field with smoke rising in the background. Smoke rises in a distant shot of the Shanksville crash site, with various vehicles and personnel. A Trooper talks with residents at a local road checkpoint.
(Bivens) There are some experiences in this profession that you never leave behind when you leave a scene. September 11 is one of those experiences for anyone who was there. That day marked a turning point for the Pennsylvania State Police and for our work dealing with the threat of international terrorism. It changed the way we prepared, the way we worked with our federal partners, and the way we understood the threats facing our Commonwealth and our nation.
Various scenes are shown, including: Troopers at the crash site, Smoke at the crash site with a pickup in the foreground, a piece of debris in the nearby woods, a Trooper picking up debris evidence marked with a flag, workers in hazmat coveralls at the crash site, Troopers in the command center, a group of people at the site including Troopers and an FBI agent, a helicopter flying in the distance.
(Bivens) That day reinforced for me what public service truly means and the responsibility we carry when people need us most. Pennsylvania State Police troopers came from across the Commonwealth to respond. They worked alongside local, state and federal law enforcement, firefighters, emergency management personnel, emergency medical personnel, and countless others who came together during one of the darkest moments in our nation's history. The troopers there that day showed professionalism, courage and compassion. They represented the very best of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Various scenes are shown, including: a large group of Troopers in various uniform types, two Troopers mounted on horses, A Trooper on a four-wheeler, A Trooper talking with a Maryland State Trooper in dress uniform, a group of personnel indoors, firefighters standing roadside while an ambulance goes by, various vehicles and personnel at the crash site, a group of Troopers and non-uniformed persons, a PSP helicopter flying low, Troopers in marked patrol cars, two Troopers on horseback, and two Troopers kneeling on one knee at the site memorial.
(Bivens) And at the center of our remembrance is Flight 93 and the 40 passengers and crew members who lost their lives. Faced with unimaginable circumstances, they showed extraordinary courage and prevented the terrorists from reaching their intended target.
Scenes of the Flight 93 memorial erected nearby are shown, including flowers and a sign listing the names of passengers and crew.
(Bivens) I recently had the opportunity to return to the Flight 93 Memorial. Being back at that site brought back memories of that day and, more importantly, reminded me of the 40 people whose lives were lost and the families who have carried that loss for 25 years. I thought about the first troopers who ran toward the wreckage, not knowing what they would encounter. And I thought about the many other troopers who came together in Shanksville, answered the call, and did what they were trained to do: serve, protect, and help others. The respect and compassion those troopers showed, and the bond they formed with the families, are things I will never forget.
Scenes shown in this sequence include a large group of Troopers in formation, a Trooper working in the woods near the crash site after nightfall, A marked vehicle and Troopers at a road checkpoint, Troopers on horseback, and Troopers saluting as busses of victims' family members drive by.
(Bivens) Many years have passed, but that day remains a reminder of the fragility of life, the strength of the human spirit, and the importance of standing together when our fellow citizens need us. It is also a reminder that the impact of September 11th did not end that day. The families who lost loved ones have carried that loss for 25 years. The first responders and law enforcement officers who responded carried those memories with them. And the people of Pennsylvania continue to honor the courage and sacrifice that took place there.
Scene in this sequence include Troopers and attendees at a memorial, Troopers saluting, a woman with her hands together as busses of victims' family members drive by, and the U.S. flag waving on a sunny day.
(Bivens) On this 25th anniversary, the Pennsylvania State Police joins people across our Commonwealth and our nation in remembering those we lost, honoring those who responded, and paying tribute to the courage of those victims aboard Flight 93. We remember their lives. We honor their sacrifice. We carry their memory with us. And as the Pennsylvania State Police, we will continue to remember and honor those who gave everything on September 11, 2001.
A row of Troopers hold their campaign hats over their hearts and bow their heads.
(Bivens) We will never forget.
[fade to black]