Russ Thompson, now with the San Diego Loyal Soccer Club, but during 9/11, he was a Navy Lt. Cmdr. helicopter pilot doing an exchange tour with the Royal Australian Navy and attending Australian Command & Staff College. Since it was nighttime in Australia when the attack happened, Russ and his wife stayed up until the morning hours watching the news in a state of shock and numbed by it all. Told the next day to not wear his uniform or send his children to school, it was all surreal. But Russ shares one of his most enduring memories of 9/11 - the kindness and compassion of his Muslim classmates at the College as they waited for him with hugs when he returned to school.

His advice for future generations: understand that the world changed that day and the comfort of our homeland was shaken; nevertheless, we must not be insular and disengage from the world as we must work together, including with Muslim nations.

Never Forget. God Bless America.