our diane sawyer followed those children and their mothers for 20 years. heartache to hope, unimaginable grief to inspiring resilience. >> sunrise 2021. we're preparing for a big reunion and people we first met long ago are streaming toward new york. >> we can see people that we haven't seen in so many years. >> i am walking to my gate in boston. >> there are some things that we share together that no other people share. >> new york. >> on the flight to new york. >> i'm also on my way to new york's brooklyn botanic garden to meet with people i met two decades ago, after the day that changed so many lives. charlie gibson and i are live on the air september 11th, 2001. >> i'm diane sawyer. it's tuesday, september 11th, 2001. >> it was an everyday kind of morning on "gma." charlie and i were casually talking about commuting to work. >> it is now 48 minutes after 8:00. >> a commercial pause. >> stick with us. >> and then, as we're coming back on the air, the breaking news. >> we want to tell you what we know as we know it. but we just got a report in that ther

. >> i'm diane sawyer. it's september 11th, 2001. >> reporter: you hear somebody say, someone has just flown a plane into the world trade center. what was your immediate response? >> we did not appreciate or have the full knowledge that this was an airliner that was flown into the world trade center. >> we want to tell you what we know as we know it. we just got a report in that there's been some sort of explosion at the world trade center in new york city. >> we don't know if it would have been deliberate or accidental. we know so little now. >> it wasn't until we learned that the second aircraft -- >> my god. >> that looks like a second plane. >> that we ended our meeting. and then moved to where we could see those images on the television, like every other american. and that's when we knew our nation was under attack. >> reporter: what were your marching orders at that point? >> we needed to get armed missiles, built up and loaded on to our aircraft. and we also needed to get the authorization to launch.

. >>> and diane sawyer here tonight with the children of 9/11. here years of reporting on them and now 20 years later, the remarkable reunion. >>> good evening and it's great to have you with us here on a thursday night. and we begin tonight with that sweeping new plan to fight covid. president biden a short time ago unveiling his newest effort to get ahold of this pandemic, to get millions of americans vaccinated and of course it comes as the delta variant sweeps across the country, crippling hospitals. 1 in 4 new cases of covid now in children. and 1,000 people dying every day. the president warning americans, we're in a tough stretch and that it could last for awhile. the president taking executive action to get more people vaccinated, most federal workers and contractors now must get vaccinated. millions of health care workers, not just nursing homes now, but hospital and home health care, as well. the president also ordering workplaces with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated or tested weekly. the president showing his frustration. and on

diane sawyer with the children of 9/11 born after losing a parent. tune in tomorrow for special live coverage of the memorials beginning at 8:00 eastern. michael? >>> george, we'll turn now to one of the biggest events in new york city with crowds at the u.s. open. the energy is back and the excitement is surrounding two teen tennis phenomes who burst onto the world stage and t.j. holmes is here with that. it's been exciting. it's been fantastic to watch. >> it is, stra. like you said, the u.s. open is one of those signature special new york events, right? there's just something about the experience. it wasn't the same last year, pandemic, no spectators. spectators are back. the energy is back and now two teenagers are contributing to making sure this is a u.s. open like we've never seen before. the women's u.s. open final will feature two teenagers who have become the darlings of tennis. 19-year-old leylah fernandez from canada. and 18-year-old emma raducanu from the uk. >> game, set and match. >> reporter: both were long, long shots going into the

now diane sawyer with one extraordinary hour of hope through the eyes of the children who never knew their fathers and the resilient mothers who raised them. ♪ you're going to live forever in me ♪ >>> now, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, diane sawyer reunites with the children whose fathers died that day. >> i would just want one day. i think that's all i would ever want. >> i think i would let him know we're happy, but he already knows that. >> the babies she first met two decades ago. now those mothers, those families. >> she's like the strongest person i've ever met. >> i love you, buddy. >> their resilience, strength, and love. >> mom's our superhero. i'm not going to cry. >> you're a good kid. >> young adult. asteri asterisk. ♪ you're going to live forever in me ♪ >>> sunrise 2021. we're preparing for a big reunion, and people we met long ago are streaming toward new york. >> we can see people that we haven't seen in so many years. >> i am walking to my gate in boston. >> there are some things that we share together that no other people share. >> on the flight to new yo

diane sawyer, with the babies 9/11. i watched this promo crying my eyes out. r inspirational reunion. we will hear from charlie gibson, sharing his memory from being on set that day. we will have a special performance from a broadway hit. the cast is in times square. ♪ well well well, what have we here? ♪ ♪ a magical place... that's lookin' to get scared! ♪ (laughter) halloween time is back in disneyland and disney california adventure parks! drew: the time is 6:24 a.m. a lot of you were saying i got a quick downpour. this is early morning rain from alameda. we saw 100, to a couple hundredths of an inch of rain. we are lucky some of the lightning came with rainfall to lower the threat of new fires starting. the local view live doppler 7, no lightning strikes in our vicinity. on street level, there are some showers from redwood city to palo alto. in the next 90 all out of here. later on today, nothing but sunshine. kumasi: thank you. today is the deadline for state lawmakers to extend the covid-19 policy that gives california workers two extra weeks of

i mean, like identical. >> diane sawyer will bring you many more stories from the children of during a prime time special at 10:00 eastern and join us tomorrow at 8:00 eastern for live coverage of the anniversary ceremonies. >>> new details about the passengers on the first international flight to leave kabul since the u.s. military withdrawal. the state department says just 10 u.s. citizens and 11 green card holders were among roughly 200 people on board the charter flight that landed in qatar even though nearly 40 americans were invited to fly out. the white house says the taliban was cooperative and professional in allowing the departure. >>> breaking overnight, president biden called chinese president xi jinping amid growing tensions between the u.s. and china. after the 90-minute conversation the white house said the two leaders spoke about making sure that competition does not veer into conflict and said they could cooperate on issues like climate change if both sides respect each other's concerns. >>> dangerous fire conditions in northern california are forcing more people fro

. >> i'm diane sawyer, and it's tuesday, september 11, 2001. >> i turned on the television to watch the news. >> we've got 60 degrees at dulles airport, 66 at reagan national. >> this was your second day on the job? >> my second day on the job, yes. reporting to the pentagon for work. it started out like a regular day. >> come on, stretch. come on. >> the president was in florida. >> and that morning on 9/11, he was up early to go running. the president had traveled there to do an education event. >> how far did you go altogether? >> about four and a half. >> a perfect day in america. it was a glorious day. and the world changed. >> a ticket agent in portland, maine. >> i was working the first class counter. there was a couple of guys, they were in a big hurry. one shorter guy, his name was mohamed atta. he seemed to be in an awful bad mood. so i just said, well, if you don't get up there quickly, you're going to miss your flight altogether. and they just -- he gave me a sneer, and they both turned around and left. >> they would fly from portland, maine, to boston's logan airport. they

eastern with diane sawyer. until then, good night. >> nearly 20 years after 9/11, tonight, a new perspective. hear from the woman that took the first call from a person hijacked. that person was from the bay area. >> rain moving through the bay area tonight. i will show you what is coming next. >> they are going to get a minute 45. i don't know if they will get a story. >> we have a story, thousands of them over decades. tonight, we wish abc7 news reporter wayne freedman the best on his retirement. >> moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc7 news. [bellringing] >> tomorrow, america marks 20 years since the attack of september 11, 2001. of the nearly 3000 lives lost that day, we remember one in particular. i am ama daetz. >> and i am lashley. >> after tonight we hope and believe you will never forget it. >> she was the flight attendant who made the first call about the chaos erupting aboard the first plane to land into the world trade center. >> you can only imagine how she is reflecting or people who kno

sawyer this saturday morning, starting at 8:00 a.m. >>> coming up, britney's big win. the new twist in her legal fight with her father. >>> and later, why zebras are running wild in maryland. you're watching "world news now." do you have a life insurance policy you no longer need? now you can sell your policy, even a term policy, for an immediate cash payment. we thought we had planned carefully for our retirement. but we quickly realized that we needed a way to supplement our income. if you have one hundred thousand dollars or more of life insurance you may qualify to sell your policy. don't cancel or let your policy lapse without finding out what it's worth. visit conventrydirect.com to find out if you policy qualifies. or call the number on your screen. coventry direct, redefining insurance. [female narrator] a message for children: it's hard to be stuck at home right now... but we want to say thank you... because you're being a big helper. when you stay home... you're protecting other people from getting sick. by calling a someone you love who's stuck inside, you'r

and diane sawyer will be joined by david muir and robin roberts tomorrow morning, for a special report, america remembers 20 years later. sometimes after a tragedy, what we don't talk about is survivors guilt. all of the survivors who played the unintentional roles and how they feel responsible for what occurred. >>> coming up, we lighten things up with a live friday polka. and i'ay it again. if i thought a reverse mortgage was just some kind of trick to take your home, i wouldn't even be here. it's just a loan, like any other, with one big difference- and that difference is how you choose to pay it back. find out how reverse mortgage loans really work with aag's free, no-obligation reverse mortgage guide eliminate monthly mortgage payments, pay bills, medical costs, and more. call now! other mortgages are paid back each month, but with a reverse mortgage, you can pay whatever you can, when it works for you, or, you can choose to wait, and pay it off in one lump sum when you leave your home. call today and find out more in aag's free, no-obligation reverse mortgage loan guide. access t

those words from diane sawyer on that morning, chilling 20 years later. julian: in our other top story this morning, strikes of thunder and lightning across the bay area. crews on high alert well youyouu were asleep appear. kumasi: let's take a live look at what it looks like outside. drew is following all of that very closely. drew: good morning. we found that lightning early this morning. did you see any of it? jobina: i did not know what it was at first. drew: some people were like, what is this? we are lucky that it came with some moisture. on live doppler 7

please join david muir, robin roberts, and diane sawyer for "91120 years later: america remembers. that airs from 5:00 to 10:00 a.m. tomorrow right here on abc 7. we are going to shift gears because this is no regular friday on abc 7. veteran reporter wayne freedman is retiring after 30 years with kgo tv. wayne will be joining us here to celebrate his career next, and we will put your que ♪ ♪ ♪ small decisions make a world of difference. ikea. freedman day here at kgo, but it is of course wayne freedman day here in san francisco. >> yes, wayne freedman day not just here but in san francisco. it is a celebration day as we honor veteran reporter wayne freedman retiring today after 30 years with kgo tv. we had a celebration for when a short time ago in the newsroom. general manager there, look at that -- fine wine, champagne, and taco bell because nothing but the classiest f w >> td that. >> you should share with our friends and fans. >> it is not celebratory, it is my stress food. i don't have a sugar thing. i'm going to take this opportunity now to tell taco bell, you need to

and then diane sawyer at 10:00 p.m. eastern on the children of 9/11. and robin, diane and i will all be here saturday morning as a nation remembers. >>> in the meantime, we turn to texas tonight. one week after that sweeping abortion law took effect, banning abortions in that state after about six weeks, governor greg abbott tonight signing into law a sweeping new voting law, one of the most restrictive ever. here's our chief white house correspondent cecilia vega. >> reporter: today in texas -- >> election integrity is now law in the state of texas. >> reporter: -- governor greg abbott signing some of the most sweeping voting restrictions in the country. >> we must have trust and confidence in our elections. >> reporter: but in texas and every other state, there has been no evidence of widespread voter fraud. still, the new law bans drive-through voting and 24-hour polling locations which have increased turnout among minorities. it prevents election officials from sending absentee ballot applications to voters who haven't requested them. this comes ju

. >> i'm diane sawyer, and it's tuesday september 11, 2001. >> i turned on the television to watch the news. >> reporter: this was your second day on the job? >> my second day on the job, yes. reporting to the pentagon for work. started out like a regular day. >> reporter: they are the stories of 9/11, forever linked by what happened that day. >> this is at the world trade center, and there has been some sort of explosion. >> reporter: 17 minutes later, the south tower hit. the plane hit one floor above you? >> yeah. and i realized if i had stayed up there, i would have been dead. what caught my attention was the fact that people that i knew were 100 and -- 100-plus stories up, were hanging outside of the window. and i watched them. they were making a sign of the cross, holding hands, and jumping. to me those people were heroes. >> reporter: the pentagon was next. 9:37 a.m. >> we now have a report that fire has been confirmed at the pentagon. >> reporter: air traffic controllers were still trying to track down every plane. they hear sounds of a struggle from flight 93. >> negative cont

. >> i'm diane sawyer and it's tuesday, september 11th, 2001. >> three sites, four planes, 19 terrorists. nearly 3,000 lives lost. this morning we mark 20 years after 9/11. >> we have live team coverage from ground zero, the pentagon and shanksville, pennsylvania, remembering the victims and the first responders, the bravery of those lost and of the survivors. we talk with their family and friends. >> i always remember jill's smile. i try never to think about the way she died. >> who are keeping their memories alive. >> tributes to the fallen. the man who salutes his firefighter smile and he finishes a 500-mile plus journey live on "gma" and the firefighters who cycled cross-country to honor first responders who died and to help the survivors who struggle to this day. 9/11, we will never forget, america remembers. this is a special edition of "good morning america." >>> and good morning, america. this morning we remember the victims and honor the heroes of september 11th, 20 years after the attacks that shocked this country and the world. >> i think everybody remembers eactly where they

it was her first interview since meeting with diane sawyer in 2006. >> 20 years has passed, has any part of the day diminished? >> not at all. >> just that boys you still here in your head. >> yes. you have to understand,and,and,, was the hero. i'm getting emotional, so bear with me. she was the hero, not me. >> that was the first time i have heard those words from vanessa. i last contacted her in 2001 with a letter from her, she was a private person, did not want to be contacted or to discuss anything and to know 20 years later her tribute to betty and all the others, it's very meaningful and i appreciate that you were able to get a hold of her and tell us this. kristen: story will be on abc 7 news.com and as a side note i'm greatly grateful to harry for opening up and sharing his metairie -- memories with us. he will speak tomorrow in the bay neighborhood. he told me after so much attention with the 20th anniversary, it has been stressful so he is looking forward to taking some time away very soon. back to you. [loud chiming] kristen: today, a bell rin rin r ceremony at oaklands lake m

diane sawyer met them as infants, following them growing up. >> what's the thing that stays in your mind? >> is luck. >> not yet born when their fathers die, now young adults. >> you have to cherish the time you have with people, because things can change in an instant. >> raised by strong, resilient women. >> mom's our super hero. i'm not going to cry. >> with a message for us all. >> you've got to keep going, you know. if you always just stopped because of the what ifs, you wouldn't get anywhere. >> "nightline," "the babies

diane and i -- diane sawyer and i were there. we were bewildered. we were bewildered just like everybody else. then, of course, the second plane came into frame and you just played the little bit after that. we knew at that point the united states was under atack. internalizing that, george, the hardest part -- first of all, i don't think i ever -- any of us ever imagined that a plane could be used as a weapon against a building and that later people would jump. it was just beyond my can and then that the buildings would p. each one of those was such a shock. it took so long to internalize it and realize the magnitude of what we were undergoing. diane, when that second plane hit, said oh, my god. i've always thought what a wonderful reaction that was. she knew right away we had a lot of people gone. >> a lot of people gone. we couldn't have imagined also, martha raddatz, it would lead to america's longest war. a 20-year war that just ended last week. it has a lot of people wondering, especially the people in the military, were the sacrifices worth i

then i put together a documentary and diane sawyer actually went up and interviewed with her hand they were very good about the whole idea was no your body is woman you need to not let somebody tell you something is not right if you think that something is wrong. we should not take no for an answer. anyway i was a message and it changed what i did here and unchanged just like everybody said it does because you start to look introspectively in the first thing that you thank you so i'm going to die which is not the case. so you start looking at life in a different way to becomes a lot more precious each day, the time in the family and all of that type of thing. but it gave me her god be more involved in the issues i started to work a lot more in the health issue and it worked in middle file because that is something that's totally ignored most of the time of year. but the cancer caucus and became very active in the cancer caucus with the main thing that i felt proud of was the fact that after i was diagnosed in people knew that i had cancer, started to get women calling me as i can you h

around 8:52, i saw charles gibson and diane sawyer cutting away from local news to abc news at that time, and when i saw the second plane hit, i knew we were attacked and it reminded me of the challenger disaster, pearl harbor, dj, john f. kennedy's assassination, and it reminded me of munich in 1972 when the israeli athletes were killed. i was not born. i was born in 1976, the year we celebrated our bicentennial. host: isn't it amazing how you remember every detail of that day, and of the morning prior? caller: yes. i remember. in 1986, i was 10 years old. i remember the challenger exploded. i was in elementary school in the san fernando valley when the challenger disaster happened. we were told by teachers something like that. 15 years later, i was in hawthorne when the attacks happened. and when covid-19 happened, in the inland empire. i was born in 1976, when the bicentennial celebration happened. host: we are going to leave it there. you can see people arriving at the pentagon for one of the commemorations there. what does greta have for us? >> headlines from across the country, beg