Celebrating our men and women in uniform

As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 draws near, one nonprofit takes the time to reflect on the tragedy and honor America’s military men and women at the Celebrating Service and Sacrifice 10 Years After 9/11 luncheon.

The luncheon takes place Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

It is hosted by the Healthcare Institute for Neuro-Recovery and Innovation (HINRI), a Georgia nonprofit that is dedicated to accelerating the development of organizations that are advancing neuroscience and regenerative medicine in the state.

HINRI was created seven years ago by Ross Mason to help make Georgia a national leader in health innovation. Four years ago, after a bicycle accident left him paralyzed from the collarbones down, HINRI began to focus on neuroscience and regenerative medicine.

One way HINRI is accomplishing its goal is by partnering with Georgia’s military infrastructure to find innovations in health care technology that can better serve the military’s mental, spiritual, physical and emotional health.

“The event is to celebrate not just the men and women in uniform, but those nonprofits in Georgia that have demonstrated excellence in serving them,” said Mason.

“So we’re sponsoring the event with The Home Depot Foundation, Piedmont Hospital. We’re just asking people to pay for their lunch. Any extra proceeds will go toward providing free meals to men and women and uniform or reducing the price of their meal because we’re there to celebrate them. We’re there to celebrate their service and those that celebrate them.”

The luncheon’s guest speaker is Eric Greitens, a humanitarian turned Navy SEAL and author of the bestselling book “The Heart and the Fist.”

According to the website, the luncheon is not a fundraiser, but a “celebration of the service and sacrifice of our military heroes and recognition for several key Georgia nonprofits that have supported these men, women and their families.”

Tickets can be purchased online and are $40 for a single seat.