Twenty-five years ago, September 11, 2001, changed our nation forever.
Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93. In the face of unimaginable tragedy, first responders ran toward danger, strangers helped one another, and Americans across the country came together with a shared sense of grief, compassion, and resolve.
On this 25th anniversary, Operation Healing Forces remembers the lives lost, honors the courage of those who responded, and reflects on the generations of service members and military families whose lives were shaped by what followed.
For the military community, the impact of September 11 extended far beyond that single day. In the weeks, months, and years that followed, thousands of Americans answered the call to serve. Many would spend the next two decades deploying around the world in defense of the nation.
America’s Special Operations Forces were among the first called into action following the attacks. What followed was an era of sustained operations that placed extraordinary demands on service members and those who stood beside them. Repeated deployments, long separations, injuries, loss, and the challenges of returning home would leave a lasting impact across the Special Operations Forces community.
For Operation Healing Forces Retreat Program Director Billy DeLong, September 11 was both a national tragedy and a defining moment during his own military service. Twenty-five years later, he reflects on the day, the sense of duty that followed, and the lasting impact it had on those who experienced it:
“I remember 9/11 as a moment when the world seemed to stop. As a U.S. service member, the attacks felt deeply personal. At first, there was shock and disbelief. Like many Americans, I struggled to understand what I was seeing and how something like this could happen on our own soil.
As the reality began to sink in, those feelings quickly turned to anger, sadness, and concern for the people who were trapped, the first responders who ran toward the danger, and the families who were suddenly facing unimaginable loss. I also thought about my fellow service members and what the attacks would mean for all of us.
There was a strong sense of duty that came with being in uniform. We knew that our country would respond, and that many of us might be called upon to serve in ways we had never anticipated. There was uncertainty about what the future would hold, but there was also a feeling of determination. We were part of something bigger than ourselves, and we were prepared to do our part.
Looking back, 9/11 remains one of those moments that is difficult to fully put into words. It changed the way I viewed my service and reminded me of the responsibility that comes with wearing the uniform. Above all, I remember the lives that were lost, the courage of ordinary Americans and first responders, and the unity that brought people together in the days that followed.
For me, 9/11 was not just a date in history. It was a moment that changed our country, changed our military, and left a lasting mark on everyone who experienced it.”
Billy Delong (right) and a teammate from the 75th Ranger Regiment, Afghanistan 2001
Twenty-Five Years of Lasting Impact
A quarter century later, the legacy of September 11 continues to be felt throughout the military community.
Some of those who answered the call after 9/11 have since retired or transitioned from military service. Others continue to serve. Children who grew up during the wars that followed are now adults, and a new generation has entered military service with no firsthand memory of September 11.
For the Special Operations community, the effects of more than two decades of sustained service did not end when deployments slowed or missions changed. The physical, emotional, relational, and financial effects can continue through transitions, retirement, and new chapters of life.
Operation Healing Forces was founded in 2011 during this era of sustained conflict, with a commitment to serving the needs of America’s wounded, ill, injured, and fallen Special Operations Forces service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Fifteen years later, that commitment continues through programs designed to promote long-term mental, physical, emotional, and fiscal well-being.
As OHF marks its own 15th anniversary in the same year our nation observes 25 years since September 11, the connection between these milestones carries particular meaning. The men and women who answered our nation’s call after 9/11, and the loved ones who supported them through years of service, are part of the community OHF remains committed to supporting today.
Yet September 11 is also remembered for what Americans showed one another in its aftermath: unity, courage, compassion, and a willingness to step forward in service to others.
As Operation Healing Forces CEO Kerry Irvin reflected:
“We cannot undo the tragedy of September 11. But we can carry forward the unity, courage, compassion, and shared purpose America showed on September 12.”
— Kerry Irvin, CEO, Operation Healing Forces
Twenty-five years later, we remember those whose lives were taken on September 11, 2001. We honor the first responders, service members, and ordinary Americans who stepped forward. We remember those who answered the nation’s call in the years that followed, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
And we carry forward the responsibility to support and honor the generations whose lives were forever shaped by that day.
Twenty-five years later, we remember. We will never forget.
