Actor Chris Pratt invited Americans to "thank a veteran" in honor of the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in a video posted to Facebook Friday.
"In the face of unexpected violence, most of us freeze. We crumble. We pray. We cry. But a select few stand-up, join up and take the fight to the enemy, in the name of justice," Pratt wrote. "This September 11th I am doing something I invite all of you to do as well. I’m posting a video to #ThankAVeteran."
Pratt took up his own challenge and thanked Mike Day, a former Navy SEAL who Pratt said survived 27 gunshots while on a raid in Iraq.
"Astoundingly he survived," Pratt wrote. "He had to learn to walk again, he wore a colostomy bag and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Aches, pains and episodes are a common occurrence for Mike since that night. Like so many others, although Mike is back from war, he continues his own fight every day here at home. "
Day is competing in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, this fall to raise money for a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) therapy at Carrick Brain Center in Dallas, Texas. Day has set up a fundraising page on Crowdrise to benefit the center’s new cutting edge treatments for TBI.
In the video, Pratt pledged $10,000 to the cause, inviting others to donate as well.
"No matter where you land politically in terms of our countries involvement in foreign affairs, or the two wars we’ve been in post 9/11 there is no doubting the courage and valor men like Mike Day have shown," Pratt wrote. "He is a warrior in the true sense of the word. And I’d like to think what separates our country from other countries is that we have a population of people who will see to it that Mike and people like Mike are given the care they deserve."
"Because we love our troops," Pratt continued. "They protect these USA, a nation not of states, but of people. So we the people must do what we can to protect our heroes in return and lead the world by example."
He said Sept. 11, 2001 is a day from which America emerged "united and strong."
"[Fourteen] years ago we were reminded that deep down we are not divided, we are united and strong," Pratt wrote. "We’ve got each other’s backs, and despite our differences and will continue to as we move forward. ... #GodBlessAmerica."
In addition to calling for donations to Day’s cause, Pratt encouraged fellow Americans to post their own videos to social media thanking a veteran with the hashtag #ThankAVeteran.