25 Years Later, 9/11 Day Aims to Transform the Anniversary of 9/11 into America’s Day of Doing Good

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

25 Years Later, 9/11 Day Aims to Transform the Anniversary of 9/11 into America’s Day of Doing Good

Sweeping initiative seeks to reclaim September 11 as a national day of unity and good, anchored by large volunteer projects in all 50 states, a $3 million grant program, lesson plans, and partnerships with 50+ prominent organizations.

 

NEW YORK, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In observance of the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11, the nonprofit 9/11 Day today unveiled sweeping plans to unite tens of millions of Americans across political, geographic, generational, and cultural lines in the single largest day of doing good in American history.

“Our goal is to transform the 9/11 anniversary, for all time, into an annual moment of national reflection, unity and doing good in tribute to the 9/11 victims, their families, and the many first responders, recovery workers, volunteers, and military personnel who rose in service in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,” said David Paine, president and co-founder of 9/11 Day. “We want to reclaim the day.”

9/11 Day played the leading role in successfully advocating for the establishment of September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed into law in 2009 by President Barack Obama. Today, 9/11 Day oversees the National Day of Service and Remembrance on behalf of the 9/11 families and others affected by the attacks.

For Jay Winuk, 9/11 Day’s executive vice president and co-founder, the organization’s mission remains deeply personal. Jay’s younger brother, Glenn Winuk, an attorney and volunteer firefighter/EMT, died in the line of duty on 9/11 at the World Trade Center. “My brother Glenn, like so many courageous first responders, sprang into action to save people he didn’t know on 9/11,” Winuk said. “But you don’t have to run into a burning building to be heroic in your community or in the lives of others. For millions of Americans, this annual observance reflects and inspires that spirit of service in meaningful, lasting ways.”

20 Million Meals. 50 Cities. 50,000 Volunteers. 800+ Companies.

In 50 of the nation’s largest cities, 9/11 Day will join with its partners — companies, major league sports teams, nonprofits, colleges, and food banks — to host large-scale volunteer projects focused on hunger relief. In what organizers believe will be the single largest day of corporate volunteerism in U.S. history, more than 50,000 volunteers from more than 800 corporations are expected to join together to pack more than 20 million shelf-stable meals – all of which will be donated to Feeding America–affiliated food banks and other hunger relief organizations that serve these local communities. 9/11 Day is partnering with U.S. Hunger, Kids Around The World, and Meals of Hope to source food supplies and manage logistics for this year’s 9/11 Day Meal Pack projects.

A list of U.S. cities hosting 9/11 Day Meal Packs is available on the 911day.org website, as is a short video about the annual 9/11 Day Meal Pack program.

Widespread Professional Sports Industry Participation

Many teams and league representatives from the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Soccer will host or join meal-packing events to commemorate the anniversary.

These include the New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Mets, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Union, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Orioles, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Red Bulls, New York City FC, D.C. United, FC Cincinnati, Real Salt Lake, Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo FC, Colorado Rapids, St. Louis City SC, Minnesota United FC, Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans, Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Seattle Seahawks.

MLB and the New York Mets plan to co-host a flagship meal-packing event on September 11 at Citi Field ahead of that evening’s Mets-Yankees Subway Series game at Yankee Stadium.

Prominent National Partner Organizations Lean In

9/11 Day’s program for the 25th anniversary is being widely supported across the sports, government, business, and nonprofit sectors. Many of the nation’s most prominent organizations – now more than 50 in total – have joined together as founding members of 9/11 Day’s National Commemoration Committee for the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

These include AmeriCorps, NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, Feeding America, America250, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Points of Light, New York Cares, National Governors Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors, United Way Worldwide, and other influential organizations. (Founding Members of the National Commemoration Committee are listed below.)

Beyond 9/11 Day’s own flagship meal packing projects, many other service opportunities are being organized by members of 9/11 Day’s 25th Anniversary National Commemoration Committee, along with schools and universities, nonprofits, businesses, faith-based organizations, civic groups, and municipalities across the nation.

“250 years ago, our founders pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to one another — an act of service that gave birth to this nation,” said Jen Condon, executive vice president of America250, the national nonpartisan organization leading the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. “On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, this initiative invites every American to renew that founding promise through service to our neighbors and our communities.”

New Registration Platform Drives Volunteerism

Starting in mid-July, Americans interested in volunteering will be able to quickly find and sign up for local projects at 911day.org, using a new volunteer project registration and sign-up platform 9/11 Day has developed in collaboration with Eventbrite, one of the nation’s leading event management and ticketing platforms. Besides signing up for projects, individuals can also use the new platform to create and promote their own personal 9/11 Day service projects for family, friends, and colleagues.

Reaching and Educating the Next Generation

More than 100 million Americans alive today are too young to remember the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 – or have a personal understanding of the impact of the rare period of unity and service in America that immediately followed the attacks.

To help bridge the generation gap, 9/11 Day has launched a comprehensive youth engagement and education initiative for the 25th anniversary of 9/11. 9/11 Day is offering an expanded library of free lesson plans, teachers’ guides, and other classroom resources. 9/11 Day has also launched a $3 million grant program to help fund service projects by and for students, the funding of which is being provided by AmeriCorps and the Popeyes Foundation. Information about these programs and resources is available at 911day.org.

“As the government agency leading the federal engagement for September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, AmeriCorps is proud to invest in innovative approaches that foster the next generation of civic‑minded leaders,” said Emily Stock, project manager for Volunteer Initiatives, AmeriCorps. “For many young Americans, 9/11 is simply a chapter in a history book. We must teach them that 9/11 wasn’t just about the horror, but also a moment when people across the country showed up to support those affected by the attacks and each other. Despite our differences and disagreements, Americans are united by a shared commitment to give back to one another.”

National Ad Campaign Calls on Americans to Unite for Good; Independent Documentary Film Tells the 9/11 Day Story

9/11 Day’s 25th anniversary initiative is being supported by a national digital and social advertising campaign created by the award-winning agency David&Goliath, in partnership with Left Field Labs and Enso Collaborative. The “Unite for Good” campaign, launching in August, aims to inspire Americans of all ages to pledge good deeds in service of others.

Additionally, later this summer, award–winning filmmakers Greg Jacobs and Jon Siskel of Chicago-based Siskel/Jacobs Productions will release an independent documentary tracing 9/11 Day’s 25-year successful effort to transform the anniversary into a national day of doing good. Siskel/Jacobs produced one of the definitive documentary films about the 9/11 tragedy, 102 Minutes That Changed America, which received three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Principal funding for 9/11 Day’s 25th anniversary program has been provided by AmeriCorps, Delta Air Lines and Reliance, Inc. Additional national sponsors include Citi, JPMorganChase, Blackstone Charitable Foundation, Popeyes Foundation, Holland & Knight LLP, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), SRS Raise the Roof Foundation, Nestlé, MUFG, Target, Munich Re, RBC, The Pfizer Foundation, Western Alliance Community Foundation, MetLife Foundation, National Football League, Major League Baseball, Lockheed Martin, Starbucks Coffee Company, Comcast NBCUniversal, Stifel Financial Corp., and Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, which lost 67 employees in the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center.

“Delta is honored to serve as a National Presenting Sponsor of 9/11 Day as we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, a moment that deeply shaped our industry and our people,” said Allison Marques, General Manager of Community Engagement at Delta Air Lines. “This year, more than 1,500 Delta people will volunteer at meal-packing events across the country, representing the largest single day of service in our 100-year history. That commitment speaks to the heart of our people and our belief that the most meaningful way to honor this day is by showing up for others and strengthening the communities we call home.”

“Twenty-five years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we continue to honor the lives lost, the courage of the first responders, and the resilience of the survivors through service to others,” said Karla Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance. “We believe one of the most meaningful ways to preserve the spirit of that day is by coming together to strengthen our communities through acts of compassion and unity. This year marks our eighth year partnering with 9/11 Day, and we are honored to once again serve as a National Presenting Sponsor. As we commemorate this important milestone, we are proud to expand our impact by supporting Meal Pack events in more than 30 cities across the country. Together with our Reliance Family of Companies, we are helping provide nourishment, hope, and support to individuals and families in need – demonstrating that even 25 years later, the legacy of service inspired by 9/11 continues to bring people together and make a meaningful difference.”

About 9/11 Day

Founded in 2002, the nonprofit 9/11 Day led the successful effort to establish September 11 as a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Each year, tens of millions of Americans observe the day by performing good deeds in honor of those who perished, were injured or sickened; the survivors; the first responders; and all who rose to serve in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Learn more at 911day.org.

Founding Members, 9/11 Day National Commemoration Committee

9/11 Day
9/11 Memorial & Museum
AARP Foundation 
America’s Service Commissions
America’s VetDogs
America250
American Corporate Partners
American Heart Association
American Red Cross
AmeriCorps
Arbor Day Foundation
Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family
Blue Star Families
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Campus Compact
CityServe
Creative Artists Agency
Daughters of the American Revolution
Delta Air Lines
Disabled American Veterans
Feeding America 
Girl Scouts of the USA
Holland & Knight LLP
International Association of Chiefs of Police
JustServe
JPMorganChase
Keep America Beautiful
Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages
Live Nation
Love Has No Limits
Major League Baseball
Major League Soccer
Nat. Assoc. of Elementary School Principals
National Basketball Association
National Football League
National Governors Association
National Hockey League
New York Cares
NYC Service | Office of the Mayor
OneStar Foundation
One Tree Planted
Points of Light
School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS)
ServMO
Starbucks Coffee Company
Stifel/KBW
Swire Coca-Cola, USA
Team Rubicon
The Arc of the United States
The Conference Board
Travis Manion Foundation
Reliance, Inc. 
U.S. Conference of Mayors
UJA-Federation of NY
United Way Worldwide 
UServeUtah
USO
Voices Center for Resilience
Voices for National Service
We the Veterans & Military Families
With Honor Action
Young Men’s Service League (YMSL)
Youth Service America

 

Read the full press release on PR Newswire here.

As Americans Say Courage Is Vanishing in Washington, a New Book Profiles Political Leaders Who Prove It Isn’t

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

As Americans Say Courage Is Vanishing in Washington, a New Book Profiles Political Leaders Who Prove It Isn’t

62% of Americans see courage in their own communities; just 30% see it in Washington. Two-thirds say elected officials are less courageous than they were 20 years ago, while 79% say courage from elected leaders is vital to the nation’s future.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new national survey from With Honor and Gallup released June 24 finds that Americans have not lost faith in courage. They see it in their neighborhoods, their families, and those who serve. What they have stopped seeing — and what they say has been fading for two decades — is courage in Washington.

The With Honor–Gallup survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults reveals a striking divide. Sixty-two percent say people in their own communities demonstrate courage in their actions.  Just 30% say the same of elected leaders – a 32-point gap. When asked which groups they most associate with courage, Americans put first responders (60%) and military personnel (41%) at the top with elected leaders near the bottom. 

Yet the survey’s most striking finding may be what Americans still agree on. Ninety-six percent say it is important for everyday citizens to act with courage; 95% say the same of elected officials. What makes them most optimistic about America’s future? Not our freedoms, our diversity, or our innovation, but people willing to stand up for what they believe is right.

Courage also runs close to home. Seven in ten Americans say someone’s courage has personally inspired them, usually someone in their own life rather than a public figure. The people they name most are friends, parents, and family members.

Three years ago, before this survey existed, Rye Barcott started writing about the leaders who are the exception. A Marine veteran and co-founder of With Honor, Barcott spent years profiling ten elected officials — five Democrats and five Republicans — who had taken principled stands at real personal cost. What he found mirrors what the survey now confirms: courage in public life hasn’t vanished. It’s just rare enough to be remarkable.

“Americans haven’t given up on courage. They see it in their neighbors, their parents, their friends — they just don’t see it in Washington,” said Barcott. “These ten leaders are proof that it still exists in public life. On the eve of America’s 250th anniversary, the invitation is for all of us: to choose courage, to choose service, and in doing so, to shape the nation we want to live in.”

Americans also understand that courage comes at a cost. Forty-four percent say they would be concerned about negative consequences for publicly disagreeing with people on their own side — their party, their faith community, their profession, or their friends. Forty-six percent say doing so takes significant or extraordinary courage. Those concerns are nearly identical across party lines. Among veterans, the numbers shift: military veterans report notably less fear of speaking up than non-veterans.

Courage Can Save US (Bloomsbury, June 9, 2026) is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. All author proceeds go to With Honor.

Americans are invited to share a story of courage from their own lives — a Courage Moment — at couragecansaveus.com. 

Key Findings

  • 62% of Americans see courage in their own communities; just 30% see it in elected leaders.
  • 96% say it is important for everyday Americans to act with courage; 95% say the same of elected officials.
  • 26% identify people willing to stand up for what they believe is right as their top source of optimism about America’s future — ranking ahead of our freedoms, diversity, innovation, and economic strength.
  • 70% say someone’s courage has personally inspired them — most often someone they know personally.
  • First responders (60%) and military personnel (41%) rank highest among groups Americans associate with courage. Elected leaders rank near the bottom.
  • Roughly two-thirds believe elected officials show less courage today than they did 20 years ago.
  • 44% say they would be concerned about negative consequences for publicly disagreeing with people on their own side; 46% say doing so takes significant or extraordinary courage — at nearly identical rates across party lines.

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About Courage Can Save US

Courage Can Save US (Bloomsbury, June 9, 2026) is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. It profiles ten leaders in public life — five Democrats and five Republicans — who have taken principled stands at personal cost. All author proceeds go to With Honor. Available wherever books are sold. Learn more at couragecansaveus.com.

About With Honor

With Honor is a cross-partisan organization that fights polarization by supporting principled veteran leadership in public office. Learn more at withhonor.org. 

About the Survey

Results are based on a With Honor–Gallup web survey conducted May 12–22, 2026, with a random sample of 3,199 U.S. adults, members of the Gallup Panel. The margin of sampling error is ±2.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

With Honor Action Tracks Record 752 Veterans Running for Congress in 2026, Including Historic Surge in Women Veterans

Posted on by Brian Le

With Honor Action Tracks Record 752 Veterans Running for Congress in 2026, Including Historic Surge in Women Veterans

New data show veterans running in all 50 states, a 47% increase from 2024, and a 137% jump in women veterans seeking federal office.

Washington, D.C. — June 9, 2026 — With Honor Action today released new data showing a wave of military veterans stepping forward to serve in Congress: 752 veterans across all 50 states have run or are running for federal office this cycle, the highest number With Honor Action has tracked since it began monitoring veteran candidates in 2018.

The figure marks a 47% increase from 2024, when With Honor Action tracked 513 veterans running for federal office, and surpasses the previous high of 744 veteran candidates in 2022.

The most dramatic growth is among women veterans. With Honor Action is tracking 95 women veterans running or who have run for federal office in 2026, up from 40 in 2024 — a 137% increase and the highest number the organization has ever tracked.

The updated numbers build on public reporting earlier this year by The 19th News that women veterans were already running for Congress in record-breaking numbers. At the time, The 19th reported that 71 women veterans were running in 2026. With Honor Action’s latest tracking shows that the number has continued to rise as the midterm cycle accelerates.

“At a time when Americans are exhausted by division and hungry for leaders who know what it means to serve something larger than themselves, veterans are stepping forward in historic numbers,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor and author of Courage Can Save US: Ten Extraordinary Americans and the Fight for Our Future. “This is not a red wave or a blue wave — it is a service wave. These candidates come from different parties and different branches of the military, but they share lived experience in mission, sacrifice, accountability, and putting country first.”

Roughly 41% of veteran candidates tracked this cycle are post-9/11 veterans, signaling that a new generation shaped by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is continuing to enter public life.

The data are being released as Bloomsbury publishes Barcott’s new book, Courage Can Save US, which profiles ten public servants — five Democrats and five Republicans — who carried their ethos of service into public life. The book includes leaders such as New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Navy veteran and the first female military veteran elected governor in U.S. history.

By the numbers:

  • 752 veterans running or who have run for Congress in the 2026 election cycle
    • A 47% increase from the 513 veterans tracked in the 2024 election cycle
    • 363 Republicans, 294 Democrats, and 95 as independents or third-party candidates
    • 48.2% Republicans, 39.15% Democrats (the highest percentage of Democrats since With Honor Action’s tracking), and 12.65% as independents or third-party candidates
  • Roughly 41% are post-9/11 veterans
  • 95 women veterans running or who have run for Congress in 2026
    • A 137% increase from the 40 women veterans tracked in the 2024 election cycle
    • 53 Democrats, 28 Republicans, 14 as independent or third-party candidates
    • 56% Democrats, 29% Republicans, and 15% as independents or third-party candidates

With Honor Action has tracked veteran candidates through candidate databases, FEC filings, news reports, and other online sources, confirming both candidacy and veteran status. The 2026 data include candidates for the U.S. House and Senate, congressional special elections, and candidates who announced campaigns but later withdrew or suspended their campaigns. The numbers reflect With Honor Action’s tracking as of June 1, 2026, and may change as additional filing deadlines close.

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About With Honor

With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage. With Honor Action works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in Congress to pass critical legislation for our nation. With Honor Action is a 501(c)(4), which serves as the organization’s policy and social-welfare arm. With Honor has an affiliated federally registered “super PAC” called With Honor Fund III. Learn more about our work at WithHonor.org.

General Richard B. Myers, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joins With Honor Action Advisory Board Amid Surge in Military Veterans Running for Office Nationwide

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

General Richard B. Myers, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joins With Honor Action Advisory Board Amid Surge in Military Veterans Running for Office Nationwide

 

Washington, D.C. — June 8, 2026 — With Honor Action today announced that retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, who served as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has joined its Advisory Board.

General Myers led the U.S. military through the earliest stages of the Global War on Terrorism. He was sworn in as Chairman on October 1, 2001, twenty days after the September 11 attacks, and held the post until his retirement in 2005. As Chairman, he was the nation’s highest-ranking military officer and the principal military adviser to the President.

A command pilot with more than 4,100 flying hours, including over 600 combat hours in Vietnam, General Myers served more than 40 years in the U.S. Air Force. Before becoming Chairman, he was Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and commanded U.S. Space Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Pacific Air Forces, and U.S. Forces Japan. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. After leaving uniform, he held the Colin L. Powell Chair for National Security, Leadership, Character and Ethics at the National Defense University and served as the 14th president of Kansas State University, his alma mater, from 2016 to 2022.

“General Myers led during one of the most consequential periods in our nation’s history, and he did it with the courage and integrity our work depends on,” said Rye Barcott, CEO and Co-Founder of With Honor Action. “His judgment will strengthen our mission to support principled veteran leadership and reduce polarization in Congress.”

Barcott first met General Myers in 2001 through his undergraduate thesis advisor at UNC-Chapel Hill, Military History Professor Richard Kohn, an expert in civil-military relations who previously served as the Chief of the Air Force’s historical program. Kohn knows that General Myers will add significant experience, important insights, and keen judgments that will contribute to With Honor Action’s continued success.

With Honor Action previously collaborated with General Myers and his wife, Mary Jo, to provide assistance to our Afghan allies and address bipartisan national security and humanitarian concerns.

“​​I’m delighted to join With Honor Action as an Advisory Board member,” said General Richard B. Myers, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Their support of a bipartisan approach to problems is consistent with America’s founding 250 years ago. Our founding fathers didn’t always agree, but they were able to find compromise for the common good.”

“Congratulations to General Myers on joining the With Honor Action Advisory Board. I was a Lieutenant Colonel and a Colonel when he served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and I’ve long admired his service and remarkable leadership throughout his more than forty years in uniform. He was the leader we needed as Chairman in the days immediately following the attacks of September 11th. With Honor Action will be stronger for his judgment and his character,” said Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE), a Founding Co-Chair of the For Country Caucus and retired Air Force Brigadier General. “I’ve seen that organization’s impact firsthand. As a Founding Co-Chair of the For Country Caucus, I worked alongside With Honor Action to bring veterans from both parties together and put country before party. Together we’ve helped pass more than 200 bipartisan laws to strengthen our national security, support our veterans, and renew a culture of national service. That work proved something I’ve always believed — bipartisan solutions last.”

“General Richard Myers served our nation with great distinction, and I am delighted to hear that he is joining the Advisory Board of With Honor Action, an important organization that works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus of veterans in Congress,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), a Founding Vice Chair of the For Country Caucus, Air Force veteran and the daughter and granddaughter of Naval aviators who flew P-3s.

General Myers joins With Honor Action amid a surge of military veterans running for Congress in all 50 states, an increase of nearly 47% over the 2024 election cycle, as well as a record number of women veteran candidates, as reported in POLITICO.

General Myers joins an Advisory Board that includes the 22nd U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen; former National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster; former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle; 44th Surgeon General of the Army Lt. Gen. Nadja West; Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Florent Groberg; and former U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Rob Portman.

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About With Honor

With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage. With Honor Action works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in Congress to pass critical legislation for our nation. With Honor Action is a 501(c)(4), which serves as the organization’s policy and social-welfare arm. With Honor has an affiliated federally registered “super PAC” called With Honor Fund III. Learn more about our work at WithHonor.org.

 

This press release was published by the Associated Press.

With Honor Action Commends the House Passage of the Ukraine Support Act

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

With Honor Action Commends the House Passage of the Ukraine Support Act

Bipartisan veterans in Congress cross party lines to back Ukraine’s defense and tighten accountability for Russian aggression.

Washington, D.C. — June 5, 2026 — Last night, With Honor Action Co-Founder & CEO Rye Barcott joined bipartisan Members of Congress on Capitol Hill and Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna to celebrate the bipartisan passage of the Ukraine Support Act (H.R. 2913).

“Tonight’s vote is proof that American leadership on the world stage doesn’t have to be a partisan issue — and never should be,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder & CEO of With Honor. “Ukraine is fighting for its sovereignty, its people, and the democratic values that define the free world — and America’s willingness to stand firm in that fight is a demonstration of moral clarity.”

With Honor Action thanks the bipartisan efforts of House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, Rep. Don Bacon, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, as well as Reps. Salud Carbajal and Maggie Goodlander, both military veterans, and Reps. Steny Hoyer, Kevin Kiley, Marcy Kaptur, and Bill Keating, among others, for their leadership in advancing this legislation.

“Tonight, the House faced a Churchill vs. Chamberlain moment. Stand on the side of freedom and democracy, or show weakness to an invading thug who wants to restore Russian domination over a free people. Tonight, we chose Churchill,” said Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE-02), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and Air Force veteran. In 2024, I joined With Honor in Ukraine and witnessed first-hand the devastation and cruelty that Russia has inflicted on the Ukrainian people. That trip and the courage of the Ukrainians have bolstered my belief that America must continue to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s brutal invasion, and the bipartisan vote this evening proves that support still exists here in Congress.”

“Putin is counting on America to grow tired, divided, and distracted. Tonight, Congress sent the opposite message,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and former FBI Special Agent. “Last year, I joined With Honor in Ukraine and saw the human cost of Russia’s illegal war up close: families living under constant threat, communities scarred by brutality, and a free people refusing to surrender their country or their future. The Ukrainian people are fighting with courage, conviction, and a love of country that should command the respect of every freedom-loving nation. Standing with Ukraine strengthens America’s security, reinforces our alliances, and affirms a simple truth: dictators are deterred by strength, not silence.”

“Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine continues, something I saw firsthand when I joined With Honor in 2024 to visit Ukraine,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and Marine Corps veteran. “Ukraine is still standing strong not only because of the extraordinary courage of the Ukrainian people, but also because of the steadfast support of their allies. Today’s vote reaffirms our commitment to ensuring our Ukrainian allies have the resources they need to stop Putin’s aggression.”

“Ukraine is in the fight of its life to defend its freedom and democracy. A weakened Ukraine makes America less safe and the world even more dangerous. The United States must do what it has done for my entire lifetime: stand up to Russian aggression and forcefully work to end an unjust war of aggression against a free and sovereign nation,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and Navy veteran. “Our bipartisan bill makes clear that America will stand with the forces of freedom in Ukraine and will stand up to Vladimir Putin’s brutal aggression. That’s why I’m proud to stand with this bipartisan coalition.”

This legislation strengthens U.S. commitments to Ukraine’s defense and long-term recovery while simultaneously holding Russia accountable for its unprovoked aggression against the Ukrainian people. Notably, this Act authorizes up to $8 billion in military loans through FY2026 and imposes sweeping 500% tariffs on Russian imports, while limiting executive discretion to alter or ease sanctions in the event of continued Russian aggression. Supporting Ukraine and its people is not charity; it is a core American national security interest.

With Honor Action urges the Senate to prioritize companion legislation without delay.

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About With Honor

With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage. With Honor Action works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in Congress to pass critical legislation for our nation. With Honor Action is a 501(c)(4), which serves as the organization’s policy and social-welfare arm. With Honor has an affiliated federally registered “super PAC” called With Honor Fund III. Learn more about our work at WithHonor.org.

The Last Three Vietnam Veterans in Congress Return to the Wall Together Ahead of Memorial Day

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Last Three Vietnam Veterans in Congress Return to the Wall Together Ahead of Memorial Day

Nearly 30 bipartisan veteran lawmakers gathered for annual act of remembrance

WASHINGTON, D.C. —May 21, 2026— On the morning of Thursday, May 21, nearly 30 bipartisan veteran Members of Congress gathered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial—not for a press conference, but for a quiet act of remembrance.

Together, they cleaned the wall.

Leading the gathering were the only three Vietnam veterans still serving in Congress. Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), who lost his left arm in a 1971 convoy ambush, will return to the memorial alongside Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), who was wounded in combat with the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, and Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general who flew CH-46 helicopters in Vietnam. He has spent decades returning to the wall to honor those who did not come home.

For Baird, the wall reflects the war he survived. It includes the names of soldiers who fought in the same deadly convoy operations along QL19—including Specialist Four Larry Dahl, a Medal of Honor recipient killed in a 1971 ambush on that same road.

More than fifty years after their service, the three stood together again at the wall—not as young soldiers, but as some of the last living links between that war and the nation that sent them.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial—the most-visited site on the National Mall—bears the names of more than 58,000 Americans who were killed or remain missing in action.
For many of the Members participating, the names etched into the black granite are not abstract. They are friends. Brothers and sisters in arms. For the eighth consecutive year, the bipartisan For Country Caucus, alongside With Honor, has brought these veterans in Congress together to honor the more than 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Vietnam—ensuring their memory is carried forward not only in stone, but in continued service to the nation.

“More than fifty years after Vietnam, the courage it took to serve, and the bonds it forged, still transcend today’s political divisions,” said Rye Barcott, Marine Corps veteran and Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “Courage is a decision to advance the common good despite personal risk. The veterans on this wall made that decision. In a divided time, this simple act of cleaning the wall is a reminder that America is still capable of making that decision too.”

“This wall is sacred ground,” said Representatives Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Don Davis (D-NC), Co-Chairs of the For Country Caucus. “The names on it belong to Americans who answered the call without asking who stood with them politically. Coming together as veterans to honor them is how we keep faith with that same standard.”

Now an established tradition, the annual cleaning of the wall has become a quiet tradition for the For Country Caucus—one that reflects its core commitment: to put service and country above party.

In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Jen Condon, Executive Vice President of America250, the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, joined this year’s event.

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