Editor’s Note: Johnny “Joey” Jones enlisted in the Marines right after graduating from high school following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was severely wounded in a bomb explosion in Afghanistan, losing both legs above the knee and suffering serious injuries to his right forearm and both wrists. He is now a Fox News contributor.
I rememberexactlywhere I was, what I was doing and what went through my mindon Sept. 11, 2001 when I learned of the terrorist attacks on our country – just as millions of other Americans remember.
What I remember most is that the horror of it all – nearly 3,000 people killed –didn’t register,just didn’tsink inuntil later that week.
For those of you who’ve played football or other sports, you know that you eat,sleep and breathe it. I remember lying on my back in the Georgia heat sweating in my padsduring high school football practice,looking up at the sky and seeing no planes flying, no exhaust trails.
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I remember thinkingthatafterthis oneterribleevent, football didn’t inspire, it didn’t motivate, it just didn’t mean as much to me.
I realized in that moment that there were people working, trainingandfighting for something more than points on a scoreboard. They were fightingto preserve America’s freedom and our way of life. They were fightingfor me, for my family, for my friends– for everyone in our country.
Soforthishigh school sophomore,9/11gave mea reasonand apurposefor my life. In the dust and rubbleofthis enormoustragedy came a uniting spirit of survival that spread across America–unparalleled in history since Pearl Harborin my grandparents’ generation.
The Sept. 11 attacks weremore than an act of war. They were anawakening for the entire free world.
With a broken heart and a resilient spirit,Americatook the fight to an evil enemy. We showed the world thatour nation was capable ofrighteous retaliationand that we were willingto fight for America’s freedom and to defend our nation.
We banded togetherandwe found patriotism where it had beenforgotten. We found pride in ourselves and our differences– understanding that our diversity is our strength –where perhaps ignorance and fear had lived for too long.
Asmall-town boy from Georgia,Iraised my right handand proudly joined the Marines, where I learned to love Americans ofallraces, religionsand upbringings. Whether we wereRepublicans or Democrats, from big cities or small towns, from different regions, different races, rich or poor – none of it mattered. We were allsimply and righteously Americans.
The people of the United States were truly united –and none more so thanthose of us who volunteered to servein uniform in defense ofthe country we love.
Sadly, we’ve lost thatunity in recent years, too often focusing on what divides us rather than the many things that unite us. But the flame of unity and patriotism stillsmolders and remains a beacon of hope. And I don’t believe that onlytragedycan cause the flame to burn brightly once again and spark a burning desire to love and serve.
That’s why honoring and remembering those who perished on Sept. 11 has to be our purpose, our mission. To rub the sticks together and keep that flame of unity burning in all of us to honor and appreciate this entire country and what it stands for, and most importantly those men and women who fight to protect and keep it that way.
Honoring and rememberingthe sad day of Sept. 11, 2001 and all those who lost their liveshas to be our purpose, our mission.By doing this wehonor and appreciateourcountryand what it stands for–and most importantly,those brave patriots whohave foughtto protect us and keep us free.
Wethink backto the planes crashing intotheTwin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagonandafield in Pennsylvania. We think back tothe liveslost incombat.
But I’m a firm believerthatlife is for the living, and what’s most important is thatas we remember and honor all who lost their lives, we remember that we are survivors. We keep that unifying flame burning, lighting the torch of liberty, heirs to all the patriots who came before us, preserving the American Dream and making it come alive.
Weunderstand that some things are worth fighting for, including the amazing lifeAmerica provides.We care, we believe and we act.
When I remember9/11and the life-changing injuries I suffered as a Marine in Afghanistan,I tell myself one thing:”Get up, get over it and get going.” I know we all get knocked down, but I’ve madea choice to be one of those who come back stronger and more determined than ever. Just as this resilient country has.
When history writes the story of my generationthatcame ofagein the aftermath of Sept.11,2001, I believe it will be a success story. A story of victory in the face of certain and evil adversity.Like every generation, we have been tested by hardship and tragedy. And we have triumphed.
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On the 18thanniversary of 9/11 we turn a special page– from a generationthatexperiencedwhat was an unimaginabletragedy to a generation born from its ashes. This generation isn’t consumed with the resentment of seeing a horrific tragedy – instead, it embodies the resilience of surviving it.
Every singleAmericanalive on Sept. 11 is now an adult, and now has a vote and a voice in deciding what our country will become. From the rubble of defeat, 9/11 is now a coming-of-age story for the next generation oftheleaders, doers, and changeagentswe need to ensurethat America and America’s ideals will endure for all time.
As acombatveteran of boththe wars inIraq and Afghanistan in the years following theSept. 11attacks, I’m proud to pass this torch tothe post-9/11 generation.
Perhaps for the first time since that solemn moment when theTwin Towers fell we can call this day a celebration– a celebration of the resilience and ideals of “liberty and justice for all” we honor with the Pledge of Allegiance.
America isa country worth fighting for, so we foughtan enemy abroad. Let’s hopethat in the years ahead we spend less time fighting with each other, and more timeembracing the greatest country on Earth. Let’s be Americans first, and stand by each other with pride, patriotism and love.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM JOHNNY “JOEY” JONES
Johnny “Joey” Jones joined FOX News Media as a contributor in 2019. In this capacity, he provides military analysis across all FOX News Media platforms, including FOX News Channel, FOX Business Network (FBN) and FOX Nation.
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