The twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were commemorated with ceremonies at each of the sites where American lives were lost: the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and the field in Shanksville, PA where the passengers of United Flight 93 forced the plane to crash land to thwart the terrorists' plan to strike another building.

President Joe Biden was joined by former Presidents Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama in a moment of silence in NYC.

Former President George W. Bush honored the passengers of Flight 93 in a speech at Shanksville, saying "a random group of Americans is an exceptional group of people." Vice President Kamala Harris also delivered remarks, focusing on how "in a time of outright terror, we turned toward each other."

Bush's speech also drew notice for comments he made drawing a connection between foreign and domestic terrorists as "children of the same foul spirit."

President Jimmy Carter, who will turn 97 on October 1, marked the anniversary privately at home. 

Former President Donald Trump was -- sigh -- true to form. Besides his repetition of baseless claims of election fraud (see Media Winner section above), he chose not to attend the official ceremonies attended by other former presidents.

Besides his commentary for a gimmick pay-per-view boxing match, Trump posted a video message attacking Biden, issued an exclamation point-laden statement congratulating Rudy Giuliani, joked about catching Covid while taking a group photo with NYPD officers. 

Both CNN host Jim Acosta and commentator Margaret Hoover lamented the loss of the unity America had shown in the aftermath of the attacks.

FEMA photographers and videographers shared with CNN their memories of working to document search, rescue, and recovery efforts at Ground Zero. 

A firefighter's daughter advocated for continued support for the first responders and victims still suffering from cancers and other illnesses caused by the toxins released by the destruction of the World Trade Center towers. The deaths from these ailments, she said, will "outnumber the number of people who died on 9/11."

Clarissa Ward told Mediaite's editor-in-chief Aidan McLaughlin that she decided to become a journalist on 9/11.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force football teams honored the anniversary by running onto the field with every player carrying an American flag. 

The Fox Corporation announced a $1 million donation to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which was started by the brother of a firefighter who died that day. 

• Amy Coney Barrett Defends Supreme Court: We're Not 'A Bunch of Partisan Hacks'

• ‘If I Was an Alcoholic, I’d Be Fricking Dead By Now’: Giuliani Goes Off When Asked If He Was Drunk at 9/11 Speech

• HBO's John Oliver Slams His Own Parent Company AT&T for 'Hilariously F*cking Weak' Stance on Texas Abortion Law

• New CNN Poll: 59 Percent of Republicans Say Believing Trump Won the Election (He Lost) Is an Important Part of Being a Republican

Nine lives come in handy

With a full slate of college football and NFL games in action over the weekend, the most impressive catch came from fans in the stands.

It was a wild scene Saturday night at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, during the Hurricanes home college football game against Appalachian State.

A terrified black-and-white cat was dangling from the upper deck of the stadium, but was miraculously spared from injury thanks to some quick-thinking fans who used an American flag they brought with them to the game to break the kitty's fall. 

Watch the cat's aerial escapades and an interview with the feline rescuers here.