Hello from the Heartland. My name is Jenna, and this is Smarter News, news when it matters and why it matters.

Our Smarter series features unique people who help us think and live smarter.

Well, the term never forget is a term that we hear very often related to the terrorist attacks

of 9-11. And it takes on a different meaning depending on how it's used. Sometimes it's never

forget the victim. Sometimes it's never forget the events. Sometimes it's never forget who did it.

But through the last several years, in fact, the last

several decades, the term never forget has now applied to those who have made the ultimate

sacrifice for the nation in war. And it's for that reason that I never have forgotten an interview

that I did several years ago.

And we have a returning guest on that because I never forgot talking to Alison Spann.

She's a journalist.

She's also the daughter of Mike Span.

And we should never forget the name Mike Span because Mike Span is the first American killed in action in Afghanistan.

And it's a name and it's a story that we should know.

And two years ago, Allison, you joined me on Smarter News.

And this is a first, by the way.

We have our first returning guest for an update, which is great.

It's great to have you back.

And you told the story of your father, a Marine, who then went on to work as part of the CIA,

part of an elite unit, and one of the first Americans in Afghanistan after the September 11th terrorist attacks. And I've been thinking so much about you

over the last several weeks because of the events in Afghanistan. I just have to ask you,

you know, what have the last several weeks been like for you? Oh, gosh, the last several weeks,

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