Remembering 9/11

Greetings, I was just a teenager on September 11, 2001, and as I watched the horrific events that unfolded on that day, I had no idea how significantly they would shape my future. I have spent my adult life fighting to keep America safe, first as a soldier in Afghanistan, and later in my work for Spirit of America.

I recently visited Ground Zero with my colleague, Nicholette. She and I both deployed to Afghanistan post-9/11. She said of this experience, “It was very humbling and a true honor to pay respects at a memorial dedicated to preserving the memory of the men and women who died, and to those who passed trying to save them.”

As some of you may know, Jim Hake founded Spirit of America in response to the events of 9/11 (watch his TED Talk here). It was his vision to create a nonprofit that empowered civilians to support the men and women who defend our country abroad. Today, and every day, it is an honor to continue to support those in uniform who help preserve America’s freedoms and security. Respectfully, Chris Spirit of America

Chris served as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant in Afghanistan where he mentored Afghan Commandos from 2010-2011. He volunteered to return in 2012 to work with Afghan Local Police and Afghan National Police at a Village Stability site in central Afghanistan, and also took a leave of absence from SoA to deploy once more to Afghanistan with his Special Forces team in 2015.