A 9/11 Hero’s Brother Wish: Let’s Return to Being True United States of America Displayed 25 Years Ago
🇺🇸By Silver Fox Twin Roy Williams-Thank You, Jacksonville: A Hometown Welcomes a Hero
Twenty-five years later, my hometown of Jacksonville welcomed my brother home. 🇺🇸
I’m still processing the emotions from Friday’s Take the Day Back 25th Anniversary 9/11 Tribute honoring my oldest brother, Army Major Dwayne Williams.
To everyone who came out to the Dwayne Williams Pentagon Memorial, traveled to Jacksonville, stood with our family, participated in the ceremony, served, prayed, shared a memory or simply took a moment to remember Dwayne and the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives on September 11, 2001:
Thank you.
Your presence meant more to me and my family than I can put into words.
And thank you for all the phone calls, texts, prayers, Facebook posts, messages and positive comments before and after the ceremony. Some of the most meaningful encouragement even came from complete strangers who found Dwayne’s story on social media.
You reminded me that while 9/11 happened 25 years ago, people still care.
🇺🇸 I’m Praying We Find Our Way Back to Unity
There was something else I kept thinking about during this 25th anniversary.
I remember what happened to America after September 11.
For a brief moment, we put aside our differences.
We weren’t focused on Republican or Democrat.
We weren’t focused on race.
We weren’t focused on politics.
We were Americans.
We stood together under the colors of red, white and blue. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
In my opinion, September 12, 2001, showed us one of the strongest versions of America we have ever seen.
I pray we can find our way back to some of that unity.
We don’t have to agree on everything to love our country.
We don’t have to look alike, think alike or vote alike to stand together.
Never Forget
As we remember 9/11, let’s remember all the lives lost.
Nearly 3,000 innocent people were killed that day.
And thousands more—including military members, first responders and others—lost their lives in the wars that followed.
Many others have suffered and died from illnesses connected to the aftermath of the attacks and exposure to hazardous conditions at Ground Zero and elsewhere.
Their sacrifices matter too.
That’s why I believe remembering isn’t simply looking backward.
It’s about teaching the next generation.
It’s about honoring sacrifice.
It’s about appreciating our freedoms.
And it’s about reminding ourselves what can happen when Americans choose to stand together.
My brother Dwayne gave his life serving his country.
Twenty-five years later, his hometown welcomed its hero home.
Jacksonville, thank you for remembering my brother.
And to everyone who helped make this Take the Day Back celebration possible:
I will never forget your kindness, your prayers or your support.
The nation remembers how he died.
But Jacksonville—and our family—will never forget how he lived.
🇺🇸 Major Dwayne Williams. Forever our hero. Forever remembered.
Never Forget. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
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