President Biden will participate in JBER memorial ceremony Sept. 11

President Joe Biden will visit Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on Sept. 11.

Biden will participate in a ceremony at the base with members of the military, first responders and families, commemorating those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

A White House spokesperson did not answer questions about how long Biden will be in Alaska and if he has any other items on his agenda.

Biden landed in Anchorage in May for a brief refueling stop en route to the G-7 Summit Japan but has not formally visited Alaska for an event or to meet with officials during his presidency.

Past presidents also have visited Alaska in recent years. Former President Donald Trump spoke to troops while refueling at JBER in 2019, and former President Barack Obama spent three days touring the state in 2015.

Biden’s trip to Alaska will come after a Sept. 10 trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, where he will be meeting Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, according to a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

A number of Biden administration officials have visited Alaska this spring and summer. Among them, first lady Jill Biden toured Bethel with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in May. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg promoted infrastructure investments during a three-day trip this month. Senior advisor Mitch Landrieu and Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau also traveled around the state last week.