Post-9/11 Project
Minnesotans were in the towers, planes and Pentagon on the morning of 9//1 and on the frontline of the war that followed. The resulting 20-year Global War on Terror has been increasingly fought by the citizen-soldiers of the Reserves and National Guard. Thousands of servicemen and servicewomen from the state have been deployed overseas; placing tremendous strain on their families.
Whole units often enjoyed deployment ceremonies and homecomings but unique to the Post 9/11 experience has been the service of individuals (termed individual augmentees). Drawn from active duty, guard, and reserves, the experience of these sailors, soldiers, airmen, and marines has been more solitary.
Here at home, many Minnesota companies and communities sought to support our troops beyond yellow ribbons.
We invite you to share your story here. In doing so, your story will become part of the permanent collection of the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum. Select stories will be posted online.
The time to preserve these records and reflect on this era is now. In partnership with the Museum, the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs established the 9/11 and Global War on Terrorism Remembrance Task Force. Together, we hosted the "9/11 DAY OF REMEMBRANCE" from the steps of our State Capitol on Saturday, September 11, 2021. In addition, our traveling exhibit was in the nearby Cedar Street Armory and our RESOLUTE documentary was broadcast statewide on ABC-affiliates: KSTP, WDIO & KAAL.
Made possible, in part, by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs.
RESOLUTE: MN Stories of 9/11 and the War is made possible, in part, by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund using sales tax revenue resulting from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment created through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov 4, 2008.
RESOLUTE: MN Stories from Kabul
The final dramatic days for U.S. forces in Afghanistan are recounted by four Minnesotans who were there at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in late August, 2021: Ambassador Wilson, LTC Helgestad, CPT Cochran & 1LT Swanson.
General Joseph Votel: 20th Anniversary of 9/11
Sept 11, 2021: Remarks by General Joseph Votel at the "9/11 Day of Remembrance'" on the steps of the MN State Capitol. This anniversary remembrance was organized by the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs' 9/11 & Global War on Terrorism Remembrance Task Force.
9/11 Day of Remembrance at the MN State Capitol
20th Anniversary Commemoration
MN: Names of the Fallen (Post-9/11)
MN service members killed in hostile action as read by Gold Star families and supporters. Tributes to the 9/11 passengers on flights 11, 77, 93 and 175. Special thanks to the MN Department of Veteran Affairs, SnowGlobe PR, KQRS & WCCO.
Resolute (Chapters)
Resolute (Pt 1) : Prologue
Resolute (Pt 2) : N.Y.C. & D.C.
Resolute (Pt 3) : Afghanistan
Resolute (Pt 4) : Iraq
Resolute (Pt 5) : Epilogue
MN Remembers - Audra Flanagan
MN Remembers - Terry Sieben
Minnesota Remembers - Joe Balsanek
MN Remembers 9/11 & the MN National Guard
It began like any other Tuesday for the Minnesota National Guardsmen and women on duty that day. It wasn’t until later that morning that the gravity of that day sank in and our citizen Soldiers went to work securing their state and nation. In this film, the untold story of the hours, days, weeks, and months following the terrorist attacks on 9/11 is shared through the quiet heroism of the Minnesota National Guard’s Airmen and Soldiers as they remember that day. After 20 years, the anniversary of 9/11 continues to leave a lasting impact on the Guard both as an organization and on a personal level.
Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund
James N. Mattis, the 26th United States Secretary of Defense (2017-2019), was the keynote speaker for the 2021 Appreciation Dinner of the Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund.
RESOURCES
Share Your Story
We invite you to share your own experience from Sept 11 and/or the resulting Global War on Terror. In doing so, your story will become part of the permanent collection of the Minnesota Military Museum and Library. Select stories will be posted online.
Curriculum
Students will learn key facts to understand what happened on September 11, 2001. The learning will be acquired through teacher instruction, short documentary clips, maps, and the 9/11 Memorial website.
Post-9/11 Roundtable
View virtual roundtables about a variety of post-9/11 topics.
Post-9/11 Book Project
Work is underway to draft a definitive history of the Minnesota experience since 9/11.
Post-9/11 Exhibit
A traveling exhibit to share post-9/11 stories statewide.
This project was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.