By Nahsir Knight-Bell
I was 10 years old when my father, First Sergeant Russell R. Bell, was killed while serving in the Global War on Terrorism in Afghanistan in August 2012. Overnight, my brother and I became Gold Star children. Not long after, I lost my mother too. As the oldest, I stepped up to take custody and raise my brother. He needed someone to look to, and I became that person—someone steady for him, even on the days I did not feel steady myself.
I’m sharing this because my story is not unique. Since 9/11, hundreds of thousands of men and women have served in the Global War on Terrorism, and more than 7,000 of them have been killed in uniform. Behind every one of those names is a family that had to learn how to keep living. There are more than 4,750 children like us, Gold Star sons and daughters, carrying pieces of this multigenerational war.
That’s part of why serving as the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’s Gold Star Child Fellow means so much to me. Through the Foundation’s Jawbreaker Fellowship Program, named for the first Americans deployed into Afghanistan within fifteen days of September 11th, I get to engage with veterans and Gold Star families, share the stories we carry, and help shape a Memorial that will honor all those who served and sacrificed, including the families that were left behind.
Serving in this role gives me a way to carry my father’s legacy forward, alongside veterans and military families who understand exactly what this kind of loss costs. I’m committed to making sure our stories, and the stories of every family like mine, are remembered for generations to come.
This year, I started my first semester of my MBA at Fayetteville State University, and I have also enlisted in the Army Reserves. Through my education, I am continuing to honor my father’s legacy and ultimate sacrifice, using it to give back to the values that were so deeply instilled in me by my family. Through my service, I am taking that commitment a step further.
As I prepare to leave for basic training this fall, I know putting on the uniform is a choice I did not make lightly. After everything my family has been through, choosing to serve means walking the same path of selfless service that runs deep in my bloodline and potentially deploying to the same war my father gave his life to. I joined not only for myself, but to continue and keep the spirit alive, showing my brothers how we can rise above our heaviest losses, and honor the ultimate sacrifice my father made by continuing the work he believed in.
As the Nation recognizes Gold Star Children’s Day today on August 1, I invite you to join myself and the Global War on Terrorism Foundation and take a moment to honor our fallen, support the children and families who carry their legacy, and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.