September 11, 2001, fundamentally changed the world. Those who remember can recall exactly where they were and what they were doing. America had not faced such a daring attack on her homeland since Pearl Harbor in 1941. Nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives with thousands injured suffering longterm health effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Rather than focus on the negatives of 9/11, I’d like to reflect on the positive responses. Following the tragic attacks, 181,510 Americans entered active- duty service and 72,908 enlisted in the reserves.
This leads me to a call to service. President John F. Kennedy famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” In considering President Kennedy’s words, it is interesting, according to the Department of Defense (DOD), 77% of military-aged Americans are unqualified to enter military service. As such, this call to service is not strictly military service, but all types of service to fellow Americans and humanity.
