ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — Saturday morning, the Phantom Airborne Brigade took its 9/11 tribute to a higher level with a special jump from Skydive City in Zephyrhills.  The group is a nonprofit made up of veterans who get together monthly to jump.  

What You Need To Know

  • The Phantom Airborne Brigade did a 9/11 tribute with a special jump from Skydive City in Zephyrhills

  • Ryan Miller, a group member, served in the Army for 32 years, retiring as Sergeant First Class of the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg. He says he remembers 9/11 vividly

  • Miller said he enjoys the camaraderie and support the group provides

Ryan Miller served in the Army for 32 years, retiring as Sergeant First Class of the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg.  He worked to carefully connect the American flag to his parachute getting ready for Saturday’s jump.

“It’s always a big deal, you never assume that it’s going to go right," he said. "You always stay on top of it.”

Ryan said even though he’s jumped more times than he can count, this one has special meaning because he remembers 9/11 vividly. 

“The day that it happened, I was actually scrubbed in surgery, and when it happened, they broke me out, but by the time I got home that day, I already had 7 calls from the Army saying come back it’s time to go,”  Ryan said.

From there, he went on to do seven tours.  

Ryan, along with 29 other veterans — many who served in the years after the attacks — jumped out of a plane in traditional military fashion from a static line, with Ryan proudly flying the American flag from his chute.  The jump went well. 

“In the airborne community, we have a saying. It’s, 'If you’ve never done it before, it can’t be explained, but if you’ve done it, no explanation is necessary,'” said Ryan. 

But even better than jumping out of a plane, he says is the camaraderie, and support this group provides.  

“For us this is great, better therapy," Ryan said.