As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a group of veterans from across the United States gathered to recount how that day changed their paths and to call attention to the ongoing needs of service members and their families.
From Manhattan to the Guard armory
John Byrnes was swimming in a pool beneath Hunter College when sirens on Lexington Avenue announced the attacks. He rushed to a National Guard armory and spent two weeks securing Ground Zero before deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, Byrnes serves as strategic director for Concerned Veterans for America. He says the decision to invade Afghanistan was “absolutely necessary,” while the later decision to go to Iraq was “not necessary,” and the prolonged stay in Afghanistan was “unfortunate.” He warns that “pebble after pebble” can become an avalanche when leaders fail to reassess strategy.
Personal sacrifice and recovery
Chris Hoff, then a state corrections employee studying to become a special‑education teacher, watched the towers fall from the New Jersey shoreline. He re‑enlisted, served two tours in Afghanistan, and suffered multiple concussions that ended his military career. Hoff describes his post‑service life as “20 years, all I knew was prison and war,” but credits the Wounded Warrior Project and equine therapy with saving his life. He now speaks to other veterans, urging them to seek help early.
From a teenage spark to a lifelong mission
Brandon Newberry was 16 when he saw the towers collapse in his Spanish classroom. Feeling “lost and hopeless,” he joined the Marine Corps in 2006, serving in Iraq and spending roughly seven years in Afghanistan, including time as a government contractor. Newberry believes the U.S. helped Afghan women gain access to education and healthcare, but admits the mission “could have definitely been done better” and that the final withdrawal felt like a tragedy for many service members.
Surviving a devastating IED attack
Michael Matthews was already in the Army when the attacks occurred. He deployed to Iraq in 2003, where an improvised explosive device left him with severe injuries and a nine‑month hospital stay. Though his original career path was altered, Matthews now finds purpose in helping other veterans and supporting his community.
Congressional voice and a call for remembrance
Rep. Troy Downing, R‑Mont., recalls learning of the attacks while moose hunting in remote Alaska. The son of a single teenage mother who later taught at New York University and helped build a startup that became Yahoo, Downing joined the Air National Guard at 34 and served in combat search and rescue missions in Afghanistan. He calls the recent withdrawal under former President Joe Biden a “blemish” that “squandered everything we gained,” urging veterans not to view their sacrifices as in vain.
Looking forward
All five veterans agree that the nation must continue to honor those who answered the call on September 11 and provide robust mental‑health resources, employment assistance, and community support. They stress that acknowledging both the successes and the missteps of the two‑decade war is essential for healing and for ensuring future generations understand the true cost of defending liberty.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1‑800‑273‑TALK (8255).
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
