Twenty years ago, today, the world watched in horror as Islamic terrorists deliberately crashed two jumbo jets into the Twin Towers in New York City. We witnessed our fellow Americans, who worked on the floors above the place where the planes entered, stand at the edges of gaping, fiery holes in the building, trying to avoid the intense flames and thick smoke.
Then we watched the unthinkable: human beings choosing to jump roughly one-hundred stories to their deaths, rather than face the raging fire behind them. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters… forced to choose between jumping to their death or burning alive.
As it seemed like it couldn’t possibly get any worse, we suddenly realized that the South Tower was collapsing with people still inside. Horror is really the best way to describe what it felt like to watch this all happen.
Then we found out that another airplane was deliberately crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. After this, Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, PA instead of the White House or Capitol, thanks to the raw courage of the passengers on the plane.
And then the second tower collapsed… with yet more people still inside.
2,977 people were killed, including those who died later from illnesses caused by the dust. More than 6,000 were injured. As of August, 2013, 1,140 people were diagnosed with cancer from being near the toxins at Ground Zero.
It was one horror after another.
There were also shining acts of bravery, from the first responders who sacrificed themselves to save so many, to the passengers on Flight 93. The passengers on Flight 93 knew, at some point, that the plane itself was going to be used as a weapon. They made the decision together to do whatever they could to stop the terrorists’ plan to kill and destroy more, to save others even as they knew it meant their own deaths.
We then went to war, and witnessed still more bravery from American service members. Young men and women signed up in droves to defend our nation. Our troops fought for twenty years, doing everything we asked of them. Living and working in terrible conditions, never knowing if they would be one of the ones to hit an IED on the road… they fought, many doing multiple tours.
4,491 American service members were killed during the war in Iraq. The number of American service members killed in Afghanistan is listed as 2,448, but it was impossible to find out if that includes the 13 Americans who were killed two weeks ago in the suicide bombing outside of the Kabul airport.
Thousands of U.S. contractors were killed, and tens of thousands of American troops are living with their injuries, disabilities, and trauma.
Finally, there are still Americans who were abandoned in Afghanistan by the Biden administration, including pregnant women. Americans have been left there to fend for themselves against the Taliban and ISIS.
There is a lot I could say about the way in which Joe Biden (or whoever handles him) chose to (mis)manage America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. The fact that the Taliban is back in control of Afghanistan, and is holding the inauguration of their new government today, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the impetus for the war. Joe Biden’s “plan” was, without a doubt, an unmitigated disaster and entirely preventable had he or anyone in the White House cared about preventing chaos, tragedy, and death.
However, today I’d rather call attention to an article from The Federalist, “How To Honor The 9/11 Generation Of American Veterans,” by Stephen Roberts. Below is an excerpt, but please read the whole thing.
To compound the woundedness that came from the indifference of the American people, those who served in Afghanistan over the last 20 years are now wondering whether their service meant anything. The post-mortems have not helped, with their relentless focus on perceived failures. During the recent withdrawal from the country, calls to the Veterans Affairs suicide hotline increased dramatically.
Regardless of political affiliations or opinions about the war over there, this is no way to treat the warriors who took up the mantle of prior generations to keep our country safe.
Roberts continues with suggestions for us all to help and encourage American veterans, and ends with a message to remember what they did for us.
The war in Afghanistan was anything but meaningless, and the service rendered by our troops over the last 20 years is nothing short of heroic and awe-inspiring. We could learn a lot as a country from the way they stood together, served together, suffered together, and at times bled together.
Now, we welcome them home. Many of the 18-year-olds who enlisted in the wake of 9/11 are reaching retirement this year. They have seen the best and worst of the world and bring a world of wisdom back to the society they fought for.
Let’s acknowledge the cost. It’s not just those killed or maimed in battle, but also those who came back with empty hearts, or to empty homes, and have never recovered. As a nation, we must also find veterans on the fringes and bring them back into its heart. We need them as much as they need us.
In our criticism of politicians and military leadership who cared more about Critical Race Theory than their own troops in the middle of a war, we must not forget the American service members who fought bravely and stoically for twenty years. They fought for you, for me, for our children and grandchildren.
So, today, we remember and honor those who lost their lives in the evil terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001, including the heroic first responders from that day. Today, we also remember and honor those who answered the call, and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, sacrificing so much.
Thank you.
Jenny Beth Martin
[1] https://thefederalist.com/2021/09/08/how-to-honor-the-9-11-generation-of-american-veterans/ In liberty,
Jenny Beth Martin © 2021 Tea Party Patriots Action, Inc. 80 M St SE, First Floor, Washington, D.C. 20003
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