Today We Remember 9/11

 

SoldierStrong Remembers 9/11

 

By Chris Meek

The United States of America experienced the worst terrorist attack on American soil 23 years ago today, when attacks on the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the Crash of Flight 93 claimed the lives of 2,977 individuals, as well as injured and forever altered countless more.

As a 9/11 survivor, I was at Ground Zero during the attacks and my experiences that day inspired a desire in me to give back to the men and women who serve. SoldierStrong’s mission is to help our nation’s heroes take their next steps forward in life, just like me and many other Americans took our next steps forward to safety through ash and debris on one of the most horrific days in our country’s history.

On Patriot Day, an annual observance to remember and honor those who were injured or killed on 9/11, we pay reverence to all of America’s patriots, both those in uniform and civilians alike.

Now, more than ever before, I believe that our country needs the story and lessons borne out of 9/11 told, so that we do not let the day fade from our collective memory. Today, millions of Americans will offer the same sentiment: “Never Forget.” Remembering is a task set before our nation that requires each and every one of us to ensure that “Never Forget” are not just words spoken but actions taken.

Never forgetting means demonstrating the same selflessness and compassion for others that many firefighters, police officers, first responders, doctors, nurses and civilians demonstrated on 9/11 and in the days and weeks after to save their fellow Americans.

Never forgetting means honoring and remembering the sacrifices that so many men and women made as they were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to protect our freedom and democracy. Now, as they have returned home, we all share in the obligation to ensure that they have access to world class healthcare and revolutionary medical technology to treat both the visible and invisible wounds as a result of their service.

Never forgetting means remembering that United We Stand. We are stronger when we work together to better the collective lives of Americans than we are when we work individually for various different ends. And as we work together, we must never forget the history that brought us to today.

Today and every day at SoldierStrong, we acknowledge that the effects of September 11, 2001 and the subsequent wars fought in response to that day, still reverberate throughout the lives of many. It is our mission to provide physical and mental health care to those veterans whose lives have been forever impacted as a subsequent result of that day. It is our honor and we will never forget.

SoldierStrong Marks 15ᵗʰ Anniversary With Focus on New Approaches to Help Veterans Take Their Next Steps Forward

“SoldierStrong has donated more than $5.5 million in revolutionary medical technology to medical facilities and individuals to date, but we’re far from done,” co-founder and chairman Chris Meek said. “Just as medical technology advances in recent years have produced life-changing results, we know that future breakthroughs are going to do the same in ways we might not even be able to imagine. The entire SoldierStrong organization and our supporters look forward to those breakthroughs. We’re committed to connecting veterans with them so that those men and women who have made such tremendous sacrifices to defend our freedom and liberties can live their fullest lives in the years ahead.”

Meek noted that the organization’s evolution into a national nonprofit coincides with the evolution of revolutionary medical technology that has helped veterans take their next steps forward in life. Years ago, SoldierStrong began to donate robotic exoskeletons to Veterans Administration medical centers and other healthcare facilities to aid in the physical rehabilitation of veterans experiencing mobility challenges due to paralysis, stroke, traumatic brain injury or other causes.

SoldierStrong has donated 30 exoskeletons, dubbed the SoldierSuit, to facilities and individuals across the country to help injured and paralyzed veterans stand and walk again. The burgeoning use of virtual reality to treat veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress led the organization to team with some of the nation’s leading experts in the field. As a result, SoldierStrong has also donated 30 BraveMind systems to VA facilities and trained clinical staff to optimize their results.

To help veterans take their next step forward by seeking more education, SoldierStrong’s SoldierScholar program has awarded more than $500,000 to 33 recipients, including nine females and one repeat recipient. SoldierScholar has funded fully endowed scholarships at Syracuse University, Georgetown University and Old Dominion University. The Old Dominion University scholarship is designated for women veterans studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

“SoldierStrong has enjoyed the support of many donors without whom we would not be able to change the lives of the veterans we serve. In particular, our partnerships with the Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and United Rentals stand out because of their generosity for the cause and compassion for those we serve,” Meek said. “United Rentals, which donates $50 to its Turns for Troops program for every lap that Graham Rahal completes in specific races through the IndyCar season, has raised more than $1.8 million in the past seven years to support the recovery of America’s injured veterans.”

SOLDIERSTRONG CO-FOUNDER CHRIS MEEK STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF FORMER SENATOR JOE LIEBERMAN

SoldierStrong co-founder and chairman Chris Meek issued the following statement following the death of former U.S. Senator and 2000 Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman today:

“Joe Lieberman was one of the original advisory board members of SoldierStrong, demonstrating his care and concern for the men and women who served our country in defense of our freedom. His commitment was all the more apparent when I recall our conversation about my invitation to him. ‘Chris, I don’t like advisory boards,’ he said, ‘l but I can’t say no to you.’ His willing to join the SoldierStrong advisory board gave us much greater credibility and helped the organization grow into the nonprofit with national reach and influence that it is today. His decision showed the way for other national voices to join SoldierStrong, including Dr. Kathleen Hicks, who is the current Deputy Secretary of Defense, and former U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria Nancy McEldowney. Joe Lieberman was a voice for the people of Connecticut during his service in the U.S. Senate. He will be greatly missed, and the thoughts and prayers of everyone at SoldierStrong are with his wife, Hadassah, their daughter, Hana, his two children, Matt and Rebecca, from his first marriage, and stepson, Ethan Tucker.”

SOLDIERSTRONG HOSTS INAUGURAL QUARTERLY AMBASSADORS FORUM

SoldierStrong, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping America’s military veterans take their next steps forward in life after service through the donation of revolutionary medical technology to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans across the country, hosted its inaugural Ambassadors forum on Tuesday, February 13.

A group of the organization’s Ambassadors, representing each branch of the military, joined the virtual meeting, the first of four quarterly forums scheduled for 2024. Ambassadors represented users of medical technologies donated through three of SoldierStrong’s flagship programs: the SoldierSuit, a wearable robotic exoskeleton used to help paralyzed and injured veterans walk again; BraveMind, a virtual reality system used to assist post-9/11 veterans in combatting post-traumatic stress through a process known as prolonged exposure therapy; and the iBOT ® PMD, a powered wheelchair with advanced features not typical of the average wheelchair.

SoldierStrong representatives facilitated the forum and presented to the Ambassadors, including co-founder and chairman Chris Meek, Chief Technology Officer Mike Premi and SoldierSuit Program Director Steve Stark.

The forum included:

  • An update on the state of the organization and 2023 highlights;
  • An in-depth presentation of the BraveMind program;
  • Announcements for 2024 special events and organizational goals;
  • Updates from and fellowship among Ambassadors.

“SoldierStrong greatly values our Ambassadors and appreciates their countless contributions to our mission. Without their support and willingness to participate in organizational activities, we would truly be unable to share the breadth and depth of the impact of our donations on the lives of veterans,” said SoldierStrong co-founder and chairman, Chris Meek. “I was humbled by the lively exchange among our Ambassadors regarding how our donations have positively impacted their lives and their enthusiasm in continuing to help contribute to our cause.”

The next SoldierStrong Ambassador Forum is tentatively scheduled for May 2024. If you are a veteran who has benefitted from the medical technology SoldierStrong donates and would like to become an Ambassador and participate in forums, please reach out via email at info@soldierstrong.org.

To learn more about the amazing SoldierStrong Ambassadors, please visit https://www.soldierstrong.org/ambassadors/.