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.
