Remembering 9/11

Nineteen years ago today the world was rocked by the unprecedented terrorists attacks on New York City and Washington D.C.  Nearly three thousand people lost their lives in those attacks.

I was working security at the Moose Fire camp when it happened.  I can still vividly remember watching the second plane crash into the south tower of the World Trade Center live on a small portable TV someone had brought into camp.  I wondered then how these events would change our world.  The farthest thing from my mind was the notion that I would spend a great deal of my time volunteering to help the men and women of our armed forces who would respond to this horrific tragedy.

Advances in medical technology meant that many veterans who would have died on the battle field in previous wars returned home.  In many cases severely injured or permanently disabled, but alive and able to resume life.  Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress were two of the most common and insidious of the injuries.  Often invisible to the casual observer, veterans suffering these injuries may look healthy on the outside but carry a heavy burden on the inside. 

America responded to the needs of our returning vets and some 40,000 plus veterans support organizations were spawned.  These come in all shapes and sizes and many use various forms of outdoor recreation as rehabilitative therapy.  Near the top of that list (in my mind anyway) are those that use fishing and specifically fly fishing as a tool to help our injured veterans heal.  Initially we intuitively knew that fly fishing and time spent on a trout stream had some special healing quality.  Today there is science to support those gut instincts. 

As an avid fly fisherman and a Vietnam vet I knew from personal experience the restorative powers of time spent casting a fly.  Through the Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation and TU’s Veteran Service Partnership I’ve had the privilege of serving those who serve us and helping other veterans achieve peace through time on the water.

The wars have wound down.  The hospitals have emptied.  But the need is still there.  Thousands of veterans walk among us still carrying the burden of war and bearing the scars, both internal and external.  Many were just children when 9/11 occurred.  Many others fought in the first Iraq war, Panama, or Vietnam.  All served.  All deserve our support.

Nineteen years have passed and things have changed.  TU’s Veteran Service Partnership is now just the “Service Partnership” with an expanded mission to serve not only the military veteran but first responders such as fireman, law enforcement, and medical personal as well.  A different type of “warrior”. 

As you reflect on the events of 9/11 and all that followed, be grateful for those who served and those who continue to serve.  Today we’re all fighting a different kind of battle against an invisible enemy.  We will get through this and we will be stronger for it. 

See you on the river.