Retired Navy SEAL reflects on gratitude 25 years after 9/11

Retired Navy SEAL Commander Craig Powell is sharing his reflections on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Powell, who had been assigned to the Pentagon just six days before the tragedy, was working on the fifth floor when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. He joined other military personnel, including Captain David Thomas and Lieutenant General Paul Carlton Jr., to search for survivors in the damaged sections, where he personally assisted in clearing debris to rescue a trapped individual.

Featured in the new National Geographic docuseries "9/11 Reunited," Powell explains that participating in the project required him to revisit memories he had long compartmentalized. He describes the experience as a journey toward profound gratitude, noting that he is thankful for his own survival, the opportunity to watch his children grow, and the chance to have helped others during the crisis. Powell credits his perspective to a sense of appreciation for the life he was given, viewing his survival and his actions that day through a lens of deep thankfulness.