BATON ROUGE, La. — Twenty-five years ago today, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks claimed 2,977 lives in a single morning. The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs joins Louisiana and the nation today in honoring the Americans we lost, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the generation of patriots who answered the call to serve in the days that followed. The names of the 2,977 Americans lost that day are preserved at the National September 11 Memorial. We ask every Louisianian to pause today and remember their names. In the years since, Louisiana has sent thousands of service members to conflicts around the world that trace back to that single morning.
"Twenty-five years later, the shock of that September morning has not faded, and it should not," said Secretary Charlton Meginley, USAF Col. (Ret.). "But despite the shock, pain, and sadness of the events of 9/11 stands the resilience of this country and of this state. September 11th is the reason so many of our fellow Louisianians raised their right hand and answered the call to serve, and some of them did not come home. Our debt of gratitude to them, and to the families who carry that loss every day, can never be repaid. Days like this remind us that our resolve can never waver. There are still those in this world who wish to do us harm, and it is the vigilance and the sacrifice of the men and women who serve that will prevent them from succeeding, but only if they have the unwavering support of our country and its leadership. This anniversary is more than a milestone. It is a generational turning point that calls us to remember, to teach, and to carry forward the sacrifices and values that have shaped us. Our young people must know this history, not simply as a lesson from the past, but as a living legacy entrusted to their care. I have never seen Louisiana's military and veteran family or our entire state stronger, more united, or more deeply committed to those who have worn our nation's uniform and the loved ones who have stood faithfully beside them. Together, we honor their service not only with gratitude, but with a lasting promise: that Louisiana will continue to stand with our veterans and their families, today and for generations to come."
Louisiana is home to approximately 250,000 veterans. The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs serves veterans and their families through a statewide network of benefits counselors, state veterans homes, state veterans cemeteries, and educational-support programs.