RNC RELEASES FINAL PART OF “NOT IN VAIN” VIDEO-SERIES WITH REPUBLICAN VETERANS
The Republican National Committee (RNC) released today the fourth part of a video-series, entitled “Not in Vain,” featuring Republican leaders in Congress who served in Afghanistan. The latest in the series features conversations with our nation’s heroes paying tribute to the lives lost on September 11th. They also share their personal accounts from Afghanistan and raise awareness about the impact that the fall of Afghanistan has had on our service members. Watch the full series, which has been praised as “powerful” and a “must watch.”
“As tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we remember the innocent lives lost and also the American spirit that prevailed in the face of terror and tragedy,” said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. “Americans are forever indebted to our veterans who answered the call to serve following the horrific terror attacks 20 years ago. Following Joe Biden’s catastrophic failure in Afghanistan, it is imperative that we remind the veterans, Gold Star families, and victims of 9/11 that their service and sacrifice to our nation was not in vain."
Members of Congress in the series include Rep. Tony Gonzales, Navy Master Chief Petty Officer (Ret.); Rep. Michael Waltz, Green Beret (Ret.) and Army National Guard Colonel; Rep. Brian Mast, Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.), Rep. Ronny Jackson, Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.), and Rep. Jake Ellzey, Navy Commander (Ret.).
“Veterans, Gold Star families, victims of 9/11. Their sacrifices were not in vain. A whole generation of Americans have grown up not worried about planes flying into buildings, not worried about suicide bombers on school busses. They've grown up in safety.” – Rep. Michael Waltz, Green Beret (Ret.) and Army National Guard Colonel
“Since the fall of Afghanistan, I've probably heard from more veterans and current service members talking about those that they served with, carrying a weight on their shoulders that I hadn't seen them carry in years. It's important for everybody to realize just how affected our service members are right now by those commitments that they made to those that they stood alongside. The weight that they're carrying on their shoulders is something that that I can only compare to the weight that they carry for those that wear the flag on their shoulder that they serve alongside. It's an extremely heavy burden and it's something that people need to see about what our veterans, many of our veterans, are going through in this moment.” – Rep. Brian Mast, Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.)
“I was on the USS Enterprise on 9/11 and we had just finished dinner when I watched the second plane hit from my room into the World Trade Center. We were in the Arabian Sea at the time, steaming South. And as soon as the second plane hit, we turned the ship around. We were the first carrier on station after 9/11. We were the first night-time carrier to deliver strikes into Afghanistan in November of that year.” – Rep. Jake Ellzey, Navy Commander (Ret.).
“When September 11th happened, the very next day we're gathered around and we're looking at a map and everyone's going, where is Afghanistan? Right. And they go, here is Afghanistan. And guess what? A few weeks later, we were in Afghanistan.” – Rep. Tony Gonzales, Navy Master Chief Petty Officer (Ret.)
“We've invested so much into that country over the last 20 years. And those service members, I thank them for what they've done. Their sacrifice was not in vain. It wasn't. OK. It kept this country safe for 20 years.”– Rep. Ronny Jackson, Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.)
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