Chris Pratt Has This Message for Americans in 9/11 Remembrance Speech
By Movieguide® Contributor
Chris Pratt is one of the many Americans who are remembering those we lost in 9/11, as well as noting the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women.
“I am a deeply patriotic American,” Pratt said while speaking at Pepperdine University’s 2023 9/11 remembrance ceremony. “I’m a concerned citizen and I’m someone who believes that we all owe it to those who lost their lives on that fateful day to pull together to unite our incredible country and to help it fulfill its great promise.”
The actor recalled being in New Zealand working on a movie on September 11, 2001.
“I’d never seen anything like that in my life. I stepped out and I fell to my knees in the snow and I cried,” he said. “I felt the tectonic plates of the earth shifting beneath my feet. I knew in that moment that the world I lived in was going to be totally different moving forward.”
Pratt then recalled his experiences training with Navy SEALs for a role.
“I met a handful of extraordinary men,” he explained. “Men who dedicated their lives to service in the years following 9/11, men who had a purpose larger than themselves. And these are men who talked to me about being called to service, who talked to me about their love of their country in a way that moved me deeply and humbled me greatly.”
Meeting these men inspired Pratt to use his platform as a celebrity to spread the message that those lost on 9/11, as well as the first responders on the scene, should never be forgotten.
“Why me?” he asked. “Why not me? Truth is, we’re going to need all of us to bring our country together for the road ahead.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Pratt’s speech at Pepperdine:
Chris Pratt commemorated 9/11 with an appearance at Pepperdine University’s Waves of Flag Ceremony.
“Today, let’s take a moment to remember and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. ?? It’s a day that changed our world forever, but it also showed us the strength and resilience that define the American spirit,” Pratt said on Instagram.
“I had the honor of planting the last flag at the Waves of Flag Ceremony today at @Pepperdine. Each flag represents an innocent life lost on that day, including a national flag for each foreign country that lost a citizen in the attack,” he explained.
“As we look back on the events of that fateful day, let’s remember the heroes – the firefighters, police officers, first responders, and ordinary people who risked everything to help their fellow citizens. ?? Their courage and selflessness continue to inspire us all,” he continued.
“Let’s also pay tribute to the families who were forever changed by this tragedy. Your strength and the way you’ve come together as a community is a testament of the unbreakable bonds of love,” Pratt added.
The GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY actor frequently shares patriotic messages on social media.
A 2023 tweet reads, “Don’t let the 9/11 effect fade. Just a week ago, we gathered to remember the heroes and the indomitable spirit that emerged from the ashes. Let’s keep that fire of patriotism burning bright, honoring the sacrifices of those who stepped up in the face of adversity.”
“In a world that sometimes feels divided, it’s crucial to remember that we are one nation, united under the same flag, indivisible,” Pratt’s tweet continued. “Let’s carry the torch forward, ensuring that the lessons of 9/11 continue to shape our future and inspire generations to come.”
Pratt posted a similar message this year in honor of Memorial Day.
“Today, we pause to honor the brave souls who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” he wrote. “Let us remember their courage and dedication with gratitude in our hearts. May God bless and keep our fallen heroes, and may we strive to live in a way that honors their sacrifice.”
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