Operation Enduring Freedom Begins: The Call to Serve After 9/11

Less than a month after the attacks of September 11, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001.

Many people volunteered for service after 9/11 out of a strong desire to protect their family and their country. They were driven by purpose, answering America’s call with their Oath of Service. Just as these new service members volunteered and raised their right hand to serve in uniform, tens of thousands of veterans and civilians started planning ways to support them and their families as never before.

Tens of thousands of veterans, civilians, and organizations stepped up to offer support to take care of those who serve. The sense of unity in the country was palpable. As a country, we were united and determined – and you could feel it everywhere you went in the community and across the nation. That feeling and that movement helped shape the work we do at the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, and it continues to guide us to build systems of care for service members, veterans, and their families.

For those who served in Afghanistan, October 7 may carry a lot of emotions, including pride, grief, anger, and determination. Some remember where they were when they heard the news. Others were already packing bags, already volunteering, already on their way. Many lost friends along the way. Many carry invisible wounds to this day.

And to the people who came together to support the military community in the years that followed, you’re part of the story. You showed us that service doesn’t stop at the edge of a battlefield. It continues at home, in classrooms, clinics, places of worship, and neighborhoods. It’s woven into the fabric of our communities.

As we reflect on October 7, I hope we don’t just remember the war. I hope we remember the unity. The way Americans rallied together. The way service members stepped up. The way communities refused to let them go it alone. That’s the spirit we carry forward.

Looking back now, nearly 25 years later, we know that Operation Enduring Freedom wasn’t just the beginning of a war, it was the start of a generation-long chapter that tested our nation. We learned hard lessons about the costs of war, the burden placed on military families, and the resilience required not just to deploy, but to come home and keep going. The service members and veterans who stepped forward in 2001 didn’t just fight battles, they carried the nation’s grief, its resolve, and its determination.

If you were part of that call to serve our country, we honor and respect that decision in the same way we honor the sacrifice of your family. Your service to this country has earned you access to ongoing support, connection, and care. The Be Connected support line is here for you and your family, ready to link you to the benefits, resources, and services you’ve rightfully earned. Call 866-4AZ-VETS (866-429-8387) or visit ConnectVeterans.org—because your next chapter deserves as much support as your first.