I think FDR said it best one of his famous quotes: “December 7, 1941, A date which will live in Infamy… No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.”

Let us never forget the hardships that our nation and its warriors faced this day 70 years ago, or what today’s warriors are up against. Please take time today to remember what our country went through and those we lost.

There are plenty of ways that you can thank veterans in your local community, but on this Veteran’s Day I’d like to share a few simple ways you can show your appreciation for what they’ve done.

A veteran is someone who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life. Regardless of personal political views, that is an honor and there are too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact.

I’ve always liked that description because it elicits so much meaning from such few words. That’s what we’d like your goal to be today; to do something simple that will mean so much to the veterans around you. Here are five simple ways you can make that happen:

Five Simple Ways to Thank a Veteran Today

1. Say Thank You – Just the simple act of saying “Thank you for your service” goes a long way with veterans. Throw in a handshake too, you’re bound to see a smile on their face, which will make it all worth it.

2. Volunteer – Do something for the veterans in your community. Seriously, what’s an hour of your time for the sacrifices they’ve made? Check out uso.org for ways that you can help. At the least, drop off an anonymous letter at your local VA thanking a veteran; it will get to the right person.

3. Donate – Make a small donation today to any of the fantastic organizations out there that help veterans each and every day. Some of our favorites here at ITS are America’s Mighty Warriors, Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled American Veterans. As a SDVOSB (Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business), ITS Tactical has always been committed to raising money for these and many other organizations.

4. Pay for Lunch – One of my fondest memories while serving was actually when a complete stranger came up to a group of three of my buddies and I and paid for our lunch. We were in our Dress Blues eating at a Friday’s in the airport on our way out to San Diego. He simply walked up said “We appreciate what you guys are doing (pointing to the table of three other men appearing to be traveling on business), this one’s on us.” Offer to pay for a veteran’s meal today.

5. Never Forget – One of the biggest things you can do, and I think all my veteran brothers will agree with me here, is to make the most out of the opportunity you’ve been given. Our freedoms have been paved with the sacrifices of our soldiers and they did so for all of us to enjoy this great country; let’s not forget that or take it for granted.

To honor the memory of our fallen on this 10th anniversary of September 11th, we’d like to hear from you. Tell us your story and how you were personally affected by the tragedy and what were you doing when you heard the news.

I’d like to share my story here with you and hope you’ll consider doing the same in the comments below…

When I heard the news on September 11th, 2001 I was a naive 22-year-old enrolled in Junior College here in Texas. I was wandering aimlessly through a long path in earning my Associates Degree in Computer Science while working part-time at a commercial photography studio and taking just as many classes as I needed to get by each semester. This along with running in a circle of friends that had similar ambitions wasn’t doing me any good.

The morning of the 11th I was up to what I did best, sleeping in until the last minute I could before I had to get to my first class. Before my alarm rang, I got a call from my dad that woke me up. He told me to turn on the TV and that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center in New York.

I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV a few minutes after Flight 11 struck the North Tower. I watched in horror, thinking of everyone involved in what I still thought was an accident. Little did I know at the time that a second plane was bound for the remaining tower and that my life would be jolted in a new direction.

At 8:03 a.m. central time I watched in disbelief as Flight 175 struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center. This was no longer a accident I thought to myself, our planes are being used against us. The news station I was watching was reporting it as a freak accident, but I knew better.

Despite what I knew was happening, I went about my routine, getting ready to head out the door for class. I remember continuing to ask myself, “how could this be happening?”

While driving to my class I was talking about the tragedy with my friend Bryan, when he told me that Flight 77 had just struck the Pentagon. Three planes? This couldn’t be happening…

Walking into school I saw nearly everyone crowded in the main hallway staring up at the multiple TVs that were showing the breaking news. I continued into my class and grabbed a seat in the auditorium-like classroom, just as my normally enthusiastic professor walked in with a terrified look on his face. He immediately looked up at the few of us sitting there saying “class is cancelled, god help us all…”

I remember sitting there as everyone else immediately got up and walked to the door to leave, feeling lost. I eventually got up to leave and walked into the hallway, joining the others gathered around the TVs just as the South Tower collapsed. Disbelief is all I thought when the tower fell and hoping that everyone made it out who could.

I stood there as the report came in that Flight 93 had gone down in Somerset County, PA and later watched in horror again as the North Tower collapsed. Eventually I left the glow of the TV at school and learned that all classes were cancelled the remainder of the day. My drive home was a somber one, not knowing exactly what to do with myself, but wishing I could help.

In the days after the attacks of 9/11 I saw America at its best, rallying in patriotism, unity and a sense of purpose. American Flags few from nearly every home, business, car and t-shirt. Despite this oneness eventually fading, I personally vowed to never forget and to do everything in my power to ensure those who perished did not do so in vain.

I thought about how I could make a difference and made the decision in the days following the attacks to follow through on the dream that I always believed was too hard to achieve. That was to join the Navy and become a SEAL, a dream I’d had since I was 12. I wanted to first finish what I’d started at school and ensure that I went in with at least my Associates Degree. I figured I also needed that long to get in shape and prepare myself for what I was about to undertake.

In less than two years I was in the best shape of my life, finally finished with my degree, in love with the woman of my dreams and leaving for one of the most challenging programs the military had to offer.

9/11 affected me in ways that I’ll never be able to explain; I feel like it woke me up, slapped me in the face and told me to quit wasting my life. I left a lot behind with my new direction; friends, ideals and especially habits. I felt the tragedy of our nation as my driving force and I often found and still find my drive though it.

The American Flag means the world to me and I’ve learned through my military service, through the adversity our country has faced and through my own personal hardships, to use it as a constant source of strength. I believe in America’s resilience and all that we can accomplish as a nation.

I will never forget…

Please consider sharing your story in the comments and always remember September 11th, 2001 and our fallen.

We’ve wanted to do something for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, but also didn’t want to come up with anything that seemed like a celebration of the tragedy that struck America ten years ago today.

While we’re all believers in celebrating the lives of our fallen, we wanted to put together a shirt worthy of commemorating these heroes that would serve as a reminder day after day, not just simply for the tenth anniversary.

Our limited edition T-shirt directly benefits the Families of September 11, a nonprofit organization founded in October 2001 by families of those who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks. We have a limited number of these shirts and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

This is not a pre-order and these shirts have already been ordered. We expect to ship no later than Friday September 16th and any orders placed after this date will ship immediately provided they’re in stock.

Click here to order your Limited Edition 9/11 Prevail T-Shirt

We’ve been updating our 8.6.11 Tribute Patch design to honor those that gave their lives in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011 and have made some changes based on feedback we’ve received from our readers.

ASOC (Army Special Operations Command) will be replaced with USAR and ARNG to properly honor the Chinook crew comprised of the Army Reserve 158th Aviation Regiment and the Army National Guard 135th Aviation Regiment. In addition, the 30 will be replaced with 31 to recognize the K-9 with Naval Special Warfare. We’re also adding a star for the K-9 as well. The updated art is shown on the right and we’ve also updated the descriptions on the checkout page and original article.

Last but not least, we’re working on allocating all the proceeds to multiple charities that will support the Army National Guard crew and the Air Force Special Operations, in addition to the Navy SEAL Foundation.

Pre-order a 8.6.11 Tribute Patch Here

Matt has been working hard this weekend to come up with a tribute patch honoring those who fell on August 6, 2011 in the greatest loss of life in a single day since Operation Red Wings.

We’re starting a pre-order today for these patches and all proceeds will go directly to the Navy SEAL Foundation benefiting the families of the fallen and the SEAL community. Update: All proceeds will go directly to multiple charities that will support the Army Reserve crew, Army National Guard crew, Air Force Special Operations and the Navy SEAL Foundation.

These custom 100% embroidery patches measure 3.5″ wide x 3.5″ tall and feature a gold VI and 23 stars for men and lone K-9 of DEVGRU and Naval Special Warfare who fell. The 31 with the black band symbolizes the 31 members of the combined efforts of the Naval Special Warfare Command, Army National Guard and the Air Force Special Operations Command who gave their lives on August 6th. The red star marks the location in Wardak Province, Afghanistan the QRF (Quick Reaction Force) Chinook was struck with an RPG.

These brave men have never asked for anything in return for what they continue to do around the globe to ensure our way of life here. Please help the Navy SEAL Foundation and the families of the fallen in anyway you can, whether it’s by purchasing a patch or donating directly to the Foundation and other charities set up to help our warriors!

Pre-order a 8.6.11 Tribute Patch Here

The media has been a buzz this weekend, reporting on the single deadliest disaster to impact US forces since Operation Red Wings on June 28, 2005.

While the stories and headlines seem to be changing by the hour, it appears that 38 have been left dead, including 25 Navy SEALs, an Army Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) crew, Air Force Special Operations, 7 Afghan Special Forces, a SEAL K9 and an Interpreter.

Late August 5th, the Chinook carrying this QRF (Quick Reaction Force) was hit with an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) in the province of Wardak on their way to rescue four SEALs under attack. Three of these SEALs were also killed and the fourth rescued.

What has unfortunately been made public is that the SEALs were from DEVGRU (Development Group) which is also known as SEAL Team 6. Of course the media jumped all over the fact that this was the same unit responsible for taking out Bin Laden and the wrong things have been brought to light because of this. We have an upcoming article written by former DEVGRU Operator Craig Sawyer that talks directly about OPSEC (Operational Security) and the responsibility of the press on matters like these.

This loss is tragic to all involved and especially to DEVGRU, which is a very small community of SEALs. A few things have already been set up to help the families of the fallen and we’re working hard to come up with our own fundraiser to do all that we can as a community here at ITS Tactical, much like we did for America’s Mighty Warriors.

The Navy SEAL Foundation has set up a way to make a $10 donation benefiting the families by texting SEAL to 90999. A one-time $10 charge will be added to your wireless bill and donations of more than $10 can be made directly by visiting their Website at http://navysealfoundation.org/

Arc’teryx has also set up a Special Operations Support Fund through PayPal for the charities that support the families of those involved.

Please keep the families of those involved in your thoughts and prayers today and continue to check back with us throughout the day as more information becomes available.

Each year since I started ITS Tactical I’ve written an article on August 2nd to honor the memory of Marc Lee, whom I had the honor of serving with in the Navy while I was at BUD/s.

This year we were able to pull the collective efforts of our community here at ITS Tactical to do something for America’s Mighty Warriors when the opportunity presented itself. Shortly after Bin Laden’s demise we released the 5.1.11 Prevail Patch with proceeds benefiting Debbie Lee’s charity and supporting Marc’s teammates responsible for the justice served.

Debbie is not only Marc’s mother, a Gold Star Mom and tireless supporter of our Military, but travels constantly spreading the message of honor, courage and something greater than ourselves. Marc gave up his tomorrows so that we can have our todays and that’s something I’ll never forget. That’s why I’m proud to announce the donation that all of you that purchased a patch have been able to contribute to!

Contribution to America’s Mighty Warriors

After calculating all the 5.1.11 Prevail Patch sales we’ve had at ITS Tactical, we were able to raise $3,088.50 that we’re sending off today so that Debbie can continue her mission to help our military and the families of those that have fallen.

Debbie Lee’s Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Charity, America’s Mighty Warriors, was started with Debbie’s inspiration through Marc’s last letter home, the Glory Letter. In it, Marc challenged the world to commit random acts of kindness and hoped for a brighter future for this country.

Debbie has undertaken that goal with a passion for giving back to those in our military who desperately need it.

Even if you weren’t able to purchase a patch, or had your reasons not to, please help us spread the word about America’s Mighty Warriors and thank you for all your help in contributing to such a worthy organization!

Please always keep Marc and others who have given their lives selflessly for our country in your thoughts.

The 4th of July is all about commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence which gave America its independence from Great Britain, right?

“But why do Americans celebrate so much and blow things up?” a comment I recently read on a forum I frequent. I thought I’d answer this question and throw up a great quote by John Adams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

While Adams was off by two days, this quote pretty much sums up what every American should be doing to celebrate our independence! While it might seem most days that our government has veered from the founding ideals our forefathers envisioned back in 1776, I know I’ll never forget what the Declaration of Independence means and be celebrating just as Adams wanted!

How have you celebrating American Independence this 4th of July weekend?

I distinctly remember the news circulating around the Naval Special Warfare Center on June 28th, 2005, that four SDV SEALs were missing following a SR (Special Reconnaissance) mission in North Eastern Afghanistan.

Later that day I also learned of a downed MH-47 Chinook carrying a QRF (Quick Reaction Force) of 8 SEALs and 8 Night Stalkers attempting a rescue mission. It was a bone chilling realization that I had just heard about the greatest loss of life the community had seen since WWII.

It briefly flashed me back to the events of September 11th, as I had many of the same feelings of wanting to do something, but being unable to. All I could do is stand by for further news of the tragedy.

Everyone in the office I was stationed at huddled around the computers and telephones eagerly awaiting news of the four missing SEALs. By the end of the day that Tuesday, we still had no confirmation that any of the four SEALs had survived.

Standing By

During the next three days, it looked as if there was little hope in finding the missing SEALs, but no one lost faith. We were all pulling for them. Murphy, Dietz, Axelson and Luttrell. Everyone was talking about them, and in such a small community, everyone had stories to share. Not only about those still missing, but also those who had been lost in the rescue attempt.

Late Friday afternoon, July 1st, we finally received news that a message had been delivered to Camp Blessing, a Marine outpost in the Kunar Province, with word on our guys. At this point we didn’t know who had sent the message, or if all four of the SEALs were still alive.

That evening and into the morning of the 2nd, a massive search and rescue operation was unfolding to rescue the SEALs. Armed with the information given to them by Marcus Luttrell, who had been taken in by a village, the S&R force was able to locate Luttrell on July 2nd.

I received a call from my Chief that Saturday, letting me know that Luttrell had been found, and they were still looking for the others. It wasn’t for another six days that Murphy and Dietz were located, and Axelson around the 10-day mark.

While we were all thankful for Luttrell’s rescue, it was still a very somber vibe that circulated around the Center for the next few weeks. While I hadn’t personally known any of the 11 SEALs killed, I felt very connected to the event.

Meeting Luttrell

Later that July, I was busy with my usual tasks around the Naval Special Warfare Center, and was leaving the office to run an errand when I almost ran right into a man entering the office. As I looked up from the flip flops, shorts and t-shirt, I couldn’t help but affix my gaze onto the longest beard I’d ever seen while in the Navy.

This man before me had long hair, sunglasses and a beard that no joke, went all the way down to his stomach. As he pulled off his sunglasses, I briefly felt that I’d seen his face before, but asked if I could help him with anything.

After all, it wasn’t everyday that a civilian, or a brother with a serious No-Shave Chit entered the office. He extended his hand and said “Just here to see the guys, I’m Marcus Luttrell.” I immediately got the chills, shook his hand and said what an honor it was to meet him.

I dropped what I was doing to stay in the office and eagerly listen in on what this patriot had to say. After reuniting with some of his former classmates from BUD/s that I worked with, he proceeded to tell everyone the story of Operation Redwing.

A lot of what he mentioned is still classified and not included in the book Lone Survivor, which I’d highly recommend everyone read. It was fascinating, yet humbling, to hear the details first hand of the operation.

Luttrell is every bit the humble Texan that you’ve seen in the interviews, and it was indeed an honor to meet him and see the smirk on his face when I told him I was from the best damn state in the nation too.

Haunting Memory

There was a video we received shortly after Luttrell’s rescue and the bodies of Murphy, Dietz and Axelson had been located. It showed these patriot’s bodies being stripped of their weapons and belongings by the Taliban.

Memories of the video still sends chills down my spine when I think about it. I’ll never forget the erie music playing and “Allah Akbar” being chanted.

It fires me up just thinking about it to this day, and I will never forget the sacrifice these patriots have made four our great nation. Please take a moment of silence today to remember those lost during Operation Redwing.

Navy SEALs

SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

• Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y.
• Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson, 29, of Cupertino, Calif.
• Machinist Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Eric S. Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nev.
• Senior Chief Information Systems Technician (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, N.H.
• Quartermaster 2nd Class (SEAL) James Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2, Virginia Beach, Va.

• Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz, 25, of Littleton, Colo.

SEAL Team 10, Virginia Beach, Va.

• Chief Fire Controlman (SEAL) Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, La.
• Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San Diego, Calif.
• Electronics Technician 1st Class (SEAL) Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Ore.
• Lt. (SEAL) Michael M. McGreevy Jr., 30, of Portville, N.Y.
• Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SEAL) Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, of Midway, W.Va.

Army Night Stalkers

3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Air Field, Ga.

• Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio.
• Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minn.
• Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Fla.
• Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Ind.
• Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Conn.
• Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Va.
• Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Fla.

HQ Company, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.

• Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tenn.

Tribute Video

Note: This article is a repost of what I wrote up last year, but I feel it’s still ever as relevant today and I will always honor these brave heroes!