It’s been 21 years since the horrific 9/11 attacks that fundamentally shaped American society.

I remember it like it were yesterday. I was at work, when my secretary came up to me and said, “did you hear about that building falling into the river?”

Now, at the time, there was construction down on River Street in Savannah, so I assumed that’s what she was referring to. Little did I know, it was the largest terrorist attack ever on American soil.

It was surreal, as I’m sure all of us with memories of that day can agree.

At the time of the attack, I was also serving as Mayor of Pooler, and that whole month we held events in the city for folks to express their grief and sorrow for the senseless loss of life, particularly for those six individuals from Georgia.

I’d like to take a moment and recognize those Georgians whose lives were cut too short on that tragic day in 2001:

• • Claude Michael Gann, 41, a sales executive from Roswell;
  • Maynard S. Spence Jr., 42, a construction safety executive from Douglasville;
  • Harshad Sham Thatte, 30, a consultant from Norcross;
  • Major Stephen V. Long, 39, a U.S. Army soldier from Georgia;
  • Major Wallace Cole Hogan Jr., 39, a U.S. Army soldier from Macon; and,
  • Adam White, a 26-year-old from Buckhead

Everyone I just named was under the age of 45. It was a sad day for America, one of the saddest days of my life.

While the pain of this event was very real, it alone doesn’t tell the whole story of 9/11.

Like everyone, the people who worked at my pharmacy were so eager to help, so moved to action by fear and anger that they made a poster showing their patriotism for America and asked everyone who came by the pharmacy to sign it.

There are a million stories like mine, of people hugging their loved ones a little tighter, stepping in to care for a neighbor, and supporting those who needed them the most.

The terrorists meant to stoke fear and pain, but they could never have anticipated the love and patriotism that would unite the American people in a way never seen before and unmatched since.

I pray for those who, on this anniversary, are mourning the loss of loved ones. I pray for those whose lives were senselessly taken. And I pray for our veterans and active-duty military, who will not hesitate to protect us if, and when, our country is in need.

But I challenge you on this somber anniversary to also remember the love, the service, and the patriotism that was felt nationwide on 9/12. That is who we are at our core. That is worth remembering, honoring, and celebrating.

God bless America and God bless our troops.

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are continuing to honor and remember those who lost their lives on 9/11. 

The Inflation “Reduction” Act is a bad deal for Georgia. While all of Georgia’s federally elected Democrats voted for the bill, Senators Warnock and Ossoff were uniquely positioned to look out for Georgia’s interests, given that the Democratic majority unilaterally wrote the legislation. Unfortunately, Senators Warnock and Ossoff put Georgia last and failed to stand up for our state before the Democrats voted to pass this legislation.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi called House members back to vote on the bill during August, forcing us to cancel work in our districts while offering no chances for the House to amend the legislation. The Speakers’ heavy-handed tactics left House Republicans powerless to remove harmful provisions for our state and nation – and not a single Georgia Democrat House member stood up for our state.

Read the full op-ed on AJC's website. 

Tuesday, September 6: I’m up early and on the road this morning as I’m live in the studios of the world famous Butch and Bob Show in Jesup in Wayne County as we discuss news of the day including the President’s recent unfair and terrible transfer of student loan debt from those with college degrees to those without.

After a great interview, I have a phone call with the Trade Minister for the Republic of Korea, Dukgeun Ahn, as we discuss the discriminatory provisions of the partisan Inflation Acceleration Act that was passed a few weeks ago. With a South Korean auto manufacturer committing to a $5.5 billion electric vehicle plant investment in the First District, Democrats are jeopardizing this project because of the harmful provisions of their radical socialist agenda.

Next, I head to Mossy Pond Lodge in Patterson in Pierce County where I host an agriculture roundtable with local farmers from the area. With the outrageous price increase in diesel fuel as well as the cost of fertilizer almost tripling in price, farmers as being squeezed to the point that they don’t know if they will be able to afford to plant a crop during the next growing season.

After a productive meeting with great input from farmers, I head to Homerville in Clinch County where I visit my good friend, State Senator Russ Goodman, for a tour of his new Great American Cobbler plant. Russ is a blueberry farmer and has been searching for a use of some of his berries which is what started the cobbler business idea and has now grown to include apples, peaches, and blackberries.

After an informative visit of this most impressive business venture, I head to Ware County where I meet with the County Manager, Scott More, to discuss pressing issues before the commission, including railroad crossings.

Next, I head to a meeting with my good friend, Dr. William Clark, and Okefenokee Swamp Park Executive Director Kim Bednark, to discuss the current situation at the park and the ambitious plans they have for the future.

Afterwards, I meet with a group of constituents from Ware County before making the two-hour drive back to Pooler.

Wednesday, September 7: I’m up early and at the airport this morning headed for Washington in what will be the first of three flights today.

Once in Washington, I meet with DC staff and later join in on an all staff conference call. Afterwards, I meet with staff from the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Communications and Technology Subcommittee that I serve on to review our plans for 5G technology.

Next, I head back to the airport for a flight to Atlanta where I meet with a group of Hindu Americans to discuss issues affecting their community, including the equitable and accurate portrayal of Hindus and Hinduism in K-12 textbooks and in classrooms. This group advocates for policies that enhance the wellbeing of Hindus in the United States, secure the human rights of Hindus around the world, and promote peace and prosperity.

After a very informative and productive meeting, I head back to the airport and return to Washington.

Thursday, September 8: I’m honored this morning to be the special guest at the second of a three-part series on 5G and its impact on transportation sponsored by Punchbowl News and CTIA in Washington. Punchbowl news is a membership-based news community founded by journalists and has one of the largest followings on-line in Washington. After a few questions on news of the day, we take a deep dive into 5G and its impact on rural America as well as healthcare.

Once back in my office, I meet with staff regarding proposed reforms to the budget process that we will be introducing.

Afterwards, I head to the airport for my return trip home and, once I land in Savannah, head straight to Curtis V. Cooper Health Center where I meet with the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) in the First District to learn more about their emergency preparedness plans. We are very blessed in our District to have a great group of FQHC’s that provide much needed health services to the underserved population.

Afterwards, I head to our Savannah District office where I meet with area representatives from Coca-Cola to learn more about the challenges they are facing in the labor market as well as with supply chain issues.

Next, I have my final interview with University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) professor John Zaller, who is writing a book on the 2014 Congressional election.

Later, I head to Wilmington Island where I attend the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) annual Toast to Life gala where we hear inspirational stories from families living with neuromuscular disease.

Friday, September 9: After our weekly Band of Brothers bible study in Garden City, I head to Fort Stewart in Liberty County where I have the honor of being the keynote speaker at the Third Infantry Division and Local Law Enforcement 9/11 Patriots Day ceremony.

As I spoke of my personal memories of that awful day, looking around the room at the young people present, it occurred to me that many of our youth were born after 9/11/01 and have no memory of this awful event. The importance of us continuing to memorialize 9/11 cannot be overstated.

After filming this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefings, I head to downtown Savannah where I have the honor of addressing directors of the American Health Care Association who are meeting here this week.

After bringing them up to date on healthcare issues in Washington, I stay downtown and meet with members of the Police Benevolent Coastal Chapter before heading to our Savannah District office where I have a press conference to address the remaining 11 legislative days left before the midterm elections.

Next, I meet with advocates from the American Alzheimer’s Association, including my good friend and super advocate, Donna Camacho. There is no better example of why we need pharmaceutical manufacturers to continue investing in research and development (R&D) than Alzheimer’s. While the future financial burden of this dreaded disease is overwhelming, the emotional and physical toll that it puts on families and caregivers is devastating.