Twenty-five years later, we still remember.

We remember where we were on September 11, 2001. We remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the heroes who ran toward danger while others ran away.

And we remember what came next.

In the days, months, and years following that terrible morning, Americans watched as men and women raised their hands, put on the uniform, and said, “Send me.”

They went to war. They served in places most Americans could never imagine. They carried out their missions with courage and sacrifice. Many never came home. And for those who did, many were not the same.

For many veterans, coming home did not mean the mission was over.

Twenty-five years after 9/11, America is still living with the consequences of the wars that followed. Many veterans are carrying memories, grief, trauma, and wounds that cannot always be seen. Some struggle to reconnect with family and friends. Some wrestle with isolation, depression, anxiety, or a loss of purpose. And some reach a point where the pain becomes more than they believe they can carry.

That is the part of the story we cannot afford to ignore.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and this year, its message carries particular weight. We rightly honor the men and women who served our nation, but honoring their service cannot simply mean remembering what they did 25 years ago. Our responsibility does not end when the uniform comes off.

The mission after the mission is making sure the men and women who served know they are not forgotten, that they still have a purpose, and that they never have to face their darkest moments alone.

That starts with connection.

For many veterans, healing does not begin with a lecture or a checklist. It can begin with another veteran sitting beside them. It can begin with a conversation around a campfire, a morning on a trail, time spent working with an animal, or simply being somewhere they feel understood.

It can begin with belonging.

That is why the work of organizations like the Airpower Foundation matters.

At our ranch in Decatur, Texas, we provide opportunities for active-duty servicemembers and veterans to reconnect through equine therapy, service dogs, retreats, hunting and hiking, skeet and long-range shooting, veteran gatherings, and other programs designed to create community and purpose. Through our programs and partnerships, we meet veterans where they are — not where we wish they were — and help connect them with resources and experiences that fit their individual needs.

Because every veteran is different. Every story is different. Every wound is different.

There is no single path to healing, and there shouldn’t be. What matters is creating enough paths that a veteran who is struggling can find one that leads them back toward connection, purpose, and hope. Sometimes, the most important thing we can do is simply stay close enough to notice when someone is struggling.

That is why the Veterans Crisis Line is so important. Veterans, servicemembers, and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or use the Veterans Crisis Line online to reach trained responders who understand the unique challenges facing those who have served.

We should all know that number. We should all be willing to share it. And we should never wait for someone to reach a crisis before we decide they are worth showing up for.

Suicide prevention is not only about what happens in a crisis. It is also about everything that happens before the crisis: the relationships that keep someone connected, the communities that give them a place to belong, the activities that restore a sense of purpose, and the people who are willing to ask, “How are you really doing?”

This responsibility extends beyond our veterans. Military families have carried this burden too.

They have endured deployments, long separations, uncertainty, and worry. They have supported spouses bearing both visible and invisible wounds. They have raised children while a parent was away. They have welcomed veterans home and, in many cases, learned how to navigate a very different person than the one who left.

They are among the quiet heroes of the last 25 years.

If we are serious about supporting the men and women who served, we must stand beside the families who stood beside them.

Twenty-five years later, we may not have all the answers to the questions that September 11 left behind. We may still wonder whether the world is safer, whether we have become more unified, or whether we have learned all the lessons we should have learned.

But there is one answer we can give with certainty: We will not forget those who answered the call.

The men and women who served did not ask whether their sacrifice would be convenient. They did not ask whether the mission would be easy. They raised their hands and said, “Send me.” Now it is our turn to answer.

The mission has changed. It is no longer simply about sending our servicemembers into harm’s way. It is about making sure they have somewhere to come home to. It is about rebuilding the connections that war can break. It is about restoring purpose when it has been lost. It is about recognizing the wounds we cannot see. And it is about refusing to let any veteran believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness or that they have to fight alone.

The Airpower Foundation will continue to stand in that gap.

We will continue to walk alongside our veterans and their families — not just on anniversaries, but every day. We will continue creating opportunities for connection, healing, brotherhood, and renewed purpose.

Because 25 years later, we remember. We stand. And we serve those who served.

They once told us, “Send me.”

Twenty-five years later, our answer should be just as clear: We see you. We remember you. And you do not have to fight this new mission alone.

Melissa Kithas is the executive director of the Airpower Foundation. She leads programs and partnerships focused on honoring, supporting, and empowering military servicemembers, veterans, and their families through innovative solutions, strategic collaborations, and meaningful community engagement.