As we celebrate Patriot Day in remembrance of the attacks on 9/11 20 years later, two Greene County veterans urge everyone to take a moment to reflect.

Jefferson native and U.S. Army veteran Phil Thompson tells Raccoon Valley Radio an important lesson he took away from those tragic events of watching hijacked airplanes from terrorists destroy prominent structures is not to become complacent.

“Remembering this event and honoring this event, one is something that we can be proud of as a nation of how we collectively responded to an international issue. But two, make sure that something like this never happens again. The importance of us continuing to maintain our intelligence and monitor the globe, and understand that we are not isolated, that we’re part of a very complicated globe, and we all have a duty to keep each other safe.”

Greene County resident and U.S. Marine Corp veteran Jack Williams urges young people who were maybe not born yet or were too young to remember that day so that they can also honor the sacrifices that were made.

“I definitely think it’s a good thing. I think we should have something every year on September 11th, at least education for the kids to show them that it has happened, and probably will happen in the future.”

Both men encourage everyone to remember and honor those who were involved and how those events changed the country’s history forever.