I reread this every year.
I cry like a baby every year.
Todd Beamer died a father, husband, and hero.
Todd: Hello… Operator… listen to me. I can’t speak very loud. This is an emergency. I’m a passenger on a United flight to San Francisco. Our plane has been hijacked.
Lisa: I understand. Can they see you?
Todd: No. There are three that we know of. They have knives — razor knives, like box cutters. Someone announced from the cockpit there was a bomb. It sounded fake.
Lisa: Your name?Todd: Todd Beamer. United Flight 93.Todd: They killed one passenger in first class. They forced most of us back. Fourteen of us here. Five flight attendants. The guy with the bomb ordered us to sit on the floor.
Lisa: Are you okay?
Todd: We’re going down… wait. No. We’re leveling off. We changed directions. We’re flying east again.
Todd: A guy named Jeremy called his wife. She told him two planes hit the World Trade Center. Lisa, is that true?
Lisa: I have to tell you the truth. It’s very bad. Both towers are gone. A third plane hit the Pentagon. Our country is under attack. I’m afraid your plane may be part of their plan.
Todd: Oh God. Lisa, will you do something for me? Call my wife and my kids. Promise me you’ll call.
Lisa: I promise.
Todd: Our home number is… You have the same name as my wife. Lisa. We’ve been married ten years. She’s pregnant with our third child. Tell her I love her. I’ll always love her. We have two boys — David, he’s 3, and Andrew, he’s 1. Tell them their daddy loves them and he is so proud of them. The baby is due January 12th. I saw an ultrasound. We still don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy.
Lisa: I’ll tell them. I promise, Todd.(Lisa patches in the FBI.)
Agent: Todd, your plane is on a course for Washington. Best guess is the White House or the Capitol.
Todd: I understand. I’ll be back.
Todd: Everyone knows this isn’t a normal hijacking. We have decided we will not be pawns in their plot.
Lisa: What are you going to do?
Todd: Four of us are going to rush the one with the bomb. Then the cockpit. A stewardess is getting boiling water. We’ll take them out.
Todd: Would you pray with me?They pray the Lord’s Prayer. Then: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Todd: God help me. Jesus help me.Are you guys ready? Let’s Roll.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine:
"We can't restore what was taken from us that day, but we can make and continue to hold a solemn promise:
NEVER TO FORGET."
We are here to help every single American that we can affected by the devastating floods. That is our highest priority.
If you’re looking for information on how to contact the @StateDept and the embassies in Beijing and Kathmandu, please go to https://t.co/zpLKLur6Nq. If you’re abroad, contact us at +1-202-501-4444.
We express our solidarity and are united in prayer for the Nepali people following the devastating floods.
@StateDept stands ready to support the Government of Nepal with needed humanitarian assistance.
Five years ago today, 13 American service members were killed at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan. It was one of the darkest days in the history of our country — and it happened because of weak American leadership.
We will NEVER FORGET these heroes.
Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover
Cpl. Hunter Lopez
Cpl. Daegan W. Page
Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
Corpsman Maxton Soviak
Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss
Today I visited Rohingya refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar with @USAmbBangladesh. This is the largest refugee camp in the world hosting over one million refugees. The United States has supported this camp and urges our partners around the world to increase their contributions.
Always good to see my friend, Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar on the sidelines of ASEAN.
We discussed regional security issues, the Quad, trade, and defense agreements. Our relationship with India is vitally important.
Was pleased to reconvene the Quad at the @ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting to emphasize our message: strong cooperation is vital to supporting ASEAN’s own priority and centrality in the region.
The United States, India, Australia, and Japan share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is grounded in the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The Quad remains a priority, and we will meet again later this year.
On July 2, 1776, delegates for the 13 American colonies voted to approve a resolution submitted by Richard Henry Lee announcing "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown." With the vote complete, Congress began editing Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence, getting ready to announce the decision to the world.
Painting of the Committee of Five presenting the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress by John Trumbull.
#history #IndependenceDay #Freedom250
This “story” tells us only about the spiritual brokenness of its publishers. Only those who cannot fathom the sacred allegiance of patriotism or the profound duties of fatherhood would attack a father for bringing his young children to Normandy as we honor the fallen on D-Day.
⚓ Congratulations on your epic voyage, SLNS Samudravijaya! 🇺🇸🇱🇰
Following its historic voyage from Baltimore to Colombo, the former @USCoastGuard Cutter Decisive was commissioned into the @srilanka_Navy fleet as SLNS Samudravijaya, P628. Chargé d’Affaires Jayne Howell joined President @anuradisanayake to mark the commissioning of the fourth U.S. Excess Defense Article-transferred cutter to join the Sri Lanka Navy.
The vessel will strengthen capabilities to counter drug trafficking and other illicit activity, conduct search and rescue operations, and safeguard vital Indian Ocean shipping routes.
This transfer reflects our shared commitment to maritime security, helping keep critical sea lanes open, disrupt transnational crime, and support a safer, more secure Indo-Pacific. Congratulations to the crew on this milestone achievement!
Read more: https://t.co/iPVkUGy3fC
A strong close to a milestone visit! @SecRubio’s trip to India culminated in a highly productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting reaffirming our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The discussions delivered meaningful progress on maritime security, port infrastructure, and energy resilience. The United States and India also signed the Critical Minerals Framework, paving the way for more secure and reliable supply chains. Thank you, Secretary Rubio, for a fantastic visit and for advancing the Quad’s vision for regional stability, security, and prosperity. The U.S.-India partnership continues to grow stronger.
Tonight in New Delhi, we celebrate a historic milestone - 250 years of American independence! It is a deep and personal honor to host my friends @SecRubio and @DrSJaishankar, along with other distinguished guests, for an evening honoring the spirit of innovation and liberty that defines the United States. Here’s to freedom, enduring partnership, and many more years of close friendship between the United States and India! #Freedom250
Joined @SecRubio in Kolkata for a visit to the Missionaries of Charity. Moments like these remind us the U.S.-India partnership rests not only on strong policies, but also on shared values and the spirit of selfless service that transcends borders.