September 7, 2006
Media contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) As the nation prepares to commemorate the fifth anniversary of terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are being reminded to fly the flag on Monday, September 11.

"This generation of Americans should never forget where they were or how they felt on that dreadful day in 2001, when a small band of terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon," said Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho).

Under a proclamation issued by President Bush September 11 has been declared "Patriot Day" and government buildings will fly the flag of the United States at half staff.

The Presidential decree calls upon American citizens "to observe Patriot Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and remembrance services, to display the flag at half staff from their homes on that day, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the innocent Americans and people from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001."

According to the final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission), after his capture in Pakistan in 2003, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) said that Osama Bin Ladin wanted to destroy the White House and the Pentagon, while KSM wanted to strike the World Trade Center, and "all of them wanted to hit the capitol."

"Those of us in the nation's capitol should never forget the passengers who fought back on United Flight 93, and perhaps saved our lives when their plane crashed in the fields of Pennsylvania," said Craig, who serves as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

In remembrance of the men and women who died that day, and in honor of the nation's servicemembers and veterans, a special commemoration ceremony will be held on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol on Monday evening. There, Congressional leaders, staff and members of the public will join in singing the national anthem and God Bless America - accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps Band. That event will begin at 6 p.m. Eastern.

#####