September’s theme was Remembrance & Resilience, and Mission Roll Call spent the month centered on two things that sit close together: honoring the legacy of 9/11 on its 25th anniversary, and supporting veterans beyond a single day of remembrance. September is also Suicide Prevention Month, so we examined where that crisis actually stands today, not just where it stood a decade ago, and highlighted the stories of veterans and families whose resilience is built on community, not just memory.
From the reflections on where we all were on Sept. 11, 2001, to a veteran fighting his way back from a massive brain bleed with his brothers-in-arms at his side, this was a month about what remembrance is supposed to cost us: showing up, and continuing to show up, long after the anniversary passes.
Stories and Articles Highlighting Remembrance & Resilience:
- Where Were You? A Nation Changed Forever
- Why We Still Serve: 25 Years Later
- Twenty-Five Years Later: Remembering 9/11 and How We Carry Its Impact Forward
- He Spent 15 Years Reuniting His Squadron, and Now They’re Rallying Around Him
- Keeping America’s Promise: How TAPS Helps Military Families Find Hope After Loss
- State of Veteran Suicide (2026)
Other Content You Might Have Missed:
- State of Veteran Homelessness (2026)
- Housing Stability Requires More Than a Referral
- When Reentry Has No Address
- The Box That Opened a Door: Lucien Koefoed’s Journey Toward Homeownership
- Jennifer’s Second Mission: From Combat Pilot to Community Builder
Veteran Town Hall
September’s Town Hall continued the conversation around transition, health and the lasting effects of military service.
In the most recent episode, Mission Roll Call hosts Ray Whitaker and Jim Whaley spoke with members of the UNC THRIVE Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about traumatic brain injury, brain health, military transition and the connections between physical health, sleep, stress, pain, relationships, emotional wellness and purpose.
The conversation also explored the role family members and spouses can play in a veteran’s health journey, the importance of long-term follow-up and why seeking care can be another way of accomplishing the mission.
The Town Hall also included reflections on Sept. 11, 2001, with Ray and Jim sharing their own memories and hearing from veterans and members of the Mission Roll Call community about where they were that day and how 9/11 shaped their lives and service.
Mission Roll Call also shared updates on veteran priorities, suicide and mental health, homelessness, upcoming nonprofit symposiums and the organization’s continued work to ensure veterans and their families have a voice in the decisions that affect them.
Missed it? Watch the Town Hall and catch up on previous conversations through the Mission Roll Call Veteran Town Hall.
Mark your calendar for our next live event. Mission Roll Call CEO Jim Whaley and COO Ray Whitaker will be live on Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. Central to discuss what’s impacted the veteran community over the last month. Join us to ask questions and see how your voice is shaping the work.
Mission Roll Call in the News:
- Congress Has a Chance to Deliver for America’s Veterans. It Should Take It.
- FOX Report with Jon Scott: Retired US Army Sergeant Major Details How Service Dogs Help Veterans Heal
Looking Ahead to October
October’s theme is Healing the Whole Veteran, focused on invisible wounds, recovery and family strength. We’ll be addressing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and moral injury, while highlighting what family connection and support can mean in the recovery process. Healing, more often than not, happens together, and next month’s stories will reflect that.
Join the Mission
Your support helps ensure the needs of veterans and their families are heard loud and clear. By becoming a member of Mission Roll Call, you become part of a community dedicated to advocating for the issues that matter most to those who have served and their loved ones.
Stay connected with us as we continue this work. Join us now.