The 9/11 Promise: Honoring 9/11 Through Action w/ Jen DePoto & Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy
As the 25th observance of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks approaches this year, Next Steps Forward continues its mission of honoring resilience, service, and purposeful action. In this powerful episode, host Dr. Chris Meek is joined by Jen DePoto, founder and president of The 9/11 Promise, and retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General H. Stacy Clardy, a member of the organization’s board of directors.
Jen shares the deeply personal inspiration behind founding The 9/11 Promise in 2016 and explains how the organization honors the heroes of 9/11 by supporting the children of fallen or disabled first responders and military service members. She and General Clardy discuss the growth of the 9/11 Promise Run, a demanding 240-mile endurance event where 100% of participant-raised funds go directly to scholarships, along with what it takes to participate and why action is such a vital companion to remembrance.
General Clardy also reflects on his 38-year Marine Corps career, lessons in leadership learned from his veteran father, resilience forged through combat and command, and why continued service after retirement is both a responsibility and a calling.
Together, they address why it’s essential for younger generations, many of whom weren’t alive on 9/11, to understand what happened that day, why it still matters, and how honoring the past must include meaningful action in the present.
About Jen DePoto: Jen DePoto is the founder and president of The 9.11 Promise, an organization dedicated to honoring the heroes and legacy of September 11, 2001 by supporting those impacted and ensuring the promise to Never Forget is carried forward through service, education, and community engagement. Guided by a deep commitment to remembrance and responsibility, Jen’s work focuses on strengthening communities, uplifting survivors and families, and preserving the lessons of 9/11 for future generations.
About Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy: Lieutenant General Stacy Clardy retired from the United States Marine Corps on January 1, 2022, after almost four decades of military service. In his final tour as the Commanding General of III Marine Expeditionary Force, he was responsible for developing strategies with partners and allies, experimenting new operational concepts and capabilities, and preparing 25,000 Marines and Sailors for conflict with the People's Republic of China. His military decorations include the Department of Defense and Navy Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit with Combat Distinguishing Device and two Gold Stars, the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device, Combat Action Ribbon, and Presidential Unit Citation. He was also awarded Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, the Republic of Korea’s Order of National Security Merit Gukseon Medal, and South Carolina’s Order of the Palmetto. Stacy now resides in his home state of South Carolina with his wife, Alison, and Labrador Retriever, Orion. He is an advisor to multiple business organizations, is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Naval Analyses, and volunteers with The 9.11 Promise, the University of South Carolina, Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church, and the Town of Pawleys Island, South Carolina