Former President Bush to speak at 20th anniversary of 9/11 in Somerset

Former President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush are scheduled to speak at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stonycreek Township, near Shanksville, on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11.

According to a release from the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Bush will deliver keynote remarks during the annual observance on the Memorial Plaza.

The Somerset County memorial pays tribute to 40 men and women who died when United Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville. They attempted to take control of the airplane — which took off from Newark, N.J., on Sept. 11, 2001 — from four hijackers investigators believe wanted to crash the plane into the U.S. Capitol or another significant target in Washington.

Groundwork for the 20th anniversary service began more than a year ago. The event is scheduled to begin Sept. 7 with a series of speakers leading up to the Sept. 11 anniversary.

According to the Flight 93 National Memorial website, Sept. 7 and 8 will consist of a panel of educators discussing tips on how high school and middle school teachers can teach Sept. 11 in a classroom. The next day, panelists from North American Aerospace Defense Command and the Federal Aviation Administration will recount their roles from that day.

Beginning Sept. 10, those involved in the creation of the Flight 93 National Memorial will recall the process of designing and building the site, which opened in 2015 with the help of millions of dollars raised by the Families of Flight 93 and supporters in the Friends of Flight 93.

The remembrance on Sept. 11 will begin at 9:45 a.m. At 10:03 a.m., the time Flight 93 crashed, the names of the passengers and crew members will be read. In addition, the Bells of Remembrance will be rung and a wreath will be placed at the Wall of Names.

After the wreath-laying, a ceremonial gate will be opened and family members will walk to the crash site.

Laura Bush previously spoke at the Flight 93 National Memorial in 2010, according to the National Park Service. The following year, George Bush spoke at the site, and promised that the nation would never forget the heroism of the 40 passengers and crew.