Honoring 25 Years: Reflection, Unity, and Doing Good on 9/11
By BRBR Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Angela McDuffie
On September 11, 2026, the Big Red Barn Retreat joined our community in marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day that forever changed our nation and the lives of countless service members, first responders, families, and communities.
Throughout the day, our team had the privilege of participating in events centered on remembrance, service, and the commitment to never forget. From honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice to connecting the next generation with opportunities to serve, the day reflected three themes that remain deeply connected to our mission: Reflection, Unity, and Doing Good.
A MORNING OF REMEMBRANCE
Our day began at the 25th Anniversary 9/11 Morning of Remembrance Ceremony at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Members of the Big Red Barn Retreat team joined community leaders, veterans, first responders, service members, families, and supporters in remembering the lives lost on September 11 and honoring the sacrifices that followed.
The Big Red Barn Retreat was honored to have Director of Posttraumatic Growth Programs and Services, Lamont “Chris” Christian, and BRBR Board Member, David Kerr, serve as key speakers during the ceremony.
In his remarks, Chris reflected on the meaning of the 25-year milestone and the responsibility carried by each generation to ensure the sacrifices of September 11 are remembered.
Standing before the steel beams commemorating that day, Chris shared that while they could be viewed as a scar representing 25 years of pain, he instead sees them as a torch, one that Americans continue to carry. He spoke of the promise we make to our warfighters, firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS professionals, families, and all those whose lives have been shaped by service and sacrifice.
He reminded those gathered that “never forget” is more than a slogan or phrase. It is a commitment to one another.
That commitment becomes especially important 25 years later, as an entire generation has grown up without firsthand memories of September 11, 2001. Chris challenged those gathered to continue telling the stories, speaking the names of those lost, honoring those who have served in the years since, and ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.
He closed with a challenge that reaches beyond remembrance alone: honor those who gave their lives, but also recognize the life their sacrifices allow us to live.
As the bells ring, he said, listen beyond the initial sound to the echo, the sound of resolve, sacrifice, and a promise.
TURNING REMEMBRANCE INTO SERVICE AT USC
Later that day, our team joined the University of South Carolina community for USC Salutes Through Service, an initiative honoring the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance through meaningful service and community engagement.
Director of Warrior PATHH Lenny Hyland and PATHH Guide Jennifer Jamieson represented the Big Red Barn Retreat, sharing information about our programs, services, and volunteer opportunities with USC veterans, first responders, Student Government members, and others throughout the campus community.
The event provided an opportunity not only to remember September 11, but also to demonstrate how remembrance can inspire action.
Chris also spoke during the USC event, where our team presented a special video centered around Reflection, Unity, and Doing Good.
These themes reflect both the response our nation witnessed following September 11 and values that continue to guide the Big Red Barn Retreat today.
Reflection gives us the opportunity to acknowledge the moments and experiences that have changed us.
Unity reminds us of the strength found in standing alongside one another, particularly during times of struggle.
And doing good turns reflection into action, creating a ripple effect that can extend far beyond ourselves.
At the Big Red Barn Retreat, we see those ideas reflected in our mission every day as we provide no cost programs and services that support active-duty service members, veterans, first responders, and their families as they pursue Posttraumatic Growth and learn to thrive at life.
OUR PROMISE TO NEVER FORGET
Twenty-five years have passed since September 11, 2001, but the responsibility to remember remains.
We remember the lives that were lost.
We remember the first responders who ran toward danger.
We remember the service members who answered the call.
We remember the families who carry those sacrifices with them every day.
And we recognize that remembrance is not confined to a single ceremony or a single day.
It can be found in how we serve. How we show up for one another. How we share the stories of those who came before us. And how we continue building communities where those who have sacrificed so much know they do not stand alone.
As Chris shared during the Morning of Remembrance Ceremony, our mission remains unchanged: honor our fallen, keep our promises, and never forget.
This September 11, we were grateful to stand alongside our community in remembrance, united in service, and committed to doing good, not only in honor of the past, but in how we move forward together.
Watch our 25th Anniversary 9/11 video, "Remembering 9/11: Reflection, Unity, & Doing Good":
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