Interview by Paul Salfen
On September 11, 2025, Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, will transform from a baseball haven into a hub of hope as over 1,300 North Texans gather to pack 380,000 meals for families in need. This monumental effort, part of America’s largest annual day of service, 9/11 Day, seeks to honor the memory of that fateful day by turning grief into action. Leading the charge as this year’s guest of honor is Dallas resident Darin Kinder, a retired U.S. Secret Service Special Agent whose courage on 9/11 and beyond has inspired a movement to find purpose in the aftermath of tragedy.
In a recent interview with AMFM Magazine’s Paul Salfen, Kinder shared his harrowing experience at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, where he risked his life to aid survivors and secure the site, earning the Secret Service Medal of Valor. Now, with his newly published memoir, Bury Me in a Dirty Suit: Discovering Man’s Valiant Purpose in the Aftermath of 9/11, Kinder is turning his personal story into a call to action, urging others to find meaning through service.
“Part of my life mission is to take my experience on September 11th, my personal experience being there and surviving, taking that awful day and turning it into something positive,” Kinder told Salfen. His book, a blend of memoir and meditation on purpose, recounts his 25-year career protecting five presidents and countless dignitaries, with a focus on the chaos of 9/11—rushing through the collapsing towers, commandeering fire equipment, and helping evacuate survivors. Yet, it’s his broader message that resonates: “This world is full of problems. You and I were created to solve at least one.”
The 9/11 Day event at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, embodies this ethos. Volunteers, donning branded shirts, will form assembly lines along the ballpark’s concourse, packing meals destined for the North Texas Food Bank to combat hunger in the region. With 47 million Americans facing food insecurity annually, the 380,000 meals packed nationwide during 9/11 Day events are a powerful response to a pressing need. “What a way to honor the 422 first responders who died that day,” Kinder said, referencing the event’s origins, inspired by Jay Winuk, whose volunteer firefighter brother perished in the attacks.
Kinder’s journey to this moment wasn’t easy. For years, he grappled with the trauma of 9/11, hesitant to share his story due to the demands of his Secret Service career and the weight of the memories. “I struggled mightily,” he admitted. “It haunted me.” It wasn’t until the 10th anniversary, encouraged by trusted confidants, that he began speaking out, finding healing in sharing. “Real restorative work started happening,” he said, emphasizing how his book and this event channel pain into purpose.
For Kinder, courage is a daily choice, not just a reaction to crisis. Quoting Ben Franklin—“A man without courage is like a knife without an edge”—he encourages readers and volunteers to “get their suit dirty” by tackling issues like hunger, homelessness, or child sex trafficking. “Find your brothers, work shoulder to shoulder,” he advised, noting how his most effective moments on 9/11 came when he was with his team. This teamwork will be on full display at Globe Life Field, where corporate and community groups will unite for a common cause.
The event, open to media starting at 8 A.M. on September 11, offers striking visuals: sprawling meal-packing stations, stacks of food boxes, and interviews with local leaders and volunteers. Shifts run from 9–11 A.M. and 1–3 P.M., and organizers are calling for more participants to join the 1,300 already committed. “The spirit of this event is the spirit that’s moving me,” Kinder said. “Let’s take this day of memorial and bring some good out of it.”
To get involved, visit 911day.org, where details on the Arlington event and others nationwide are available. Kinder’s book, Bury Me in a Dirty Suit, is both a historical account and a guide to living with purpose, honoring the 3,000 lives lost, the 422 first responders, and the soldiers who fought to prevent future attacks. As Kinder puts it, “I’m trying to make beauty from ashes and equip people to be an instrument for good.”
For North Texans, September 11, 2025, is a chance to join Kinder in this mission, turning a day of sorrow into one of service, one meal at a time.
