HISTORY TIDBIT: On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 men, women, and children died in terrorist attacks in New York, Washington (DC), and Pennsylvania. It was an unprecedented national tragedy and a defining moment in the lives of many Americans. While the country was still reeling from the shocking events, New York Representative Vito Fossella introduced a bill on October 25, 2001, calling for the nation to commemorate the day. A joint resolution of Congress unanimously passed the act on December 18, 2001 and designated September 11th, in each year, as Patriot Day in honor of the historic event and those innocent victims who died. Patriot Day is a national observance, not a Federal holiday, and requires the issuance of a presidential proclamation each year. The original 2001 law called upon the nation to fly flags at half-staff and remember the victims with prayers, candlelit services, and such. In 2002, on the first anniversary of 9/11, President George W. Bush’s proclamation requested a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., when the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center, and it has continued since then as part of the annual observance. On April 21, 2009, Public Law 111-13, known as the “Serve America Act,” added a service component to the day’s commemoration. Since then September 11th has increasingly been known as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This was done, in part, to pay tribute to and honor the compassionate spirit, character, and service of those selfless first-responder heroes who charged into the World Trade Center’s twin towers, as well as the brave ones who stood up to fight for control of their plane, those who donated blood, supplies, food, clothing, or provided emergency care, kindness, or comfort to all who needed it. A nationwide campaign was launched “to encourage all people of the United States, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status, to engage in full- or part-time national service in the nonprofit sector or government, or volunteering”—with the intention of doing so in remembrance of all 9/11 terrorist attack victims. Since 2001, the nation, states, communities, and countless organizations have created ways to commemorate the day and honor 9/11 victims. Many states now have special 9/11 license tags, monuments have been erected, and annual events such as the “Tribute of Light,” charity runs, etc., ensure that the nation and future generations won’t forget. A national memorial and museum to honor 1993 World Trade Center bombing and 9/11 terrorist attack victims was built on the former site of the World Trade Center and opened on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, September 11, 2011. LINKS: Former Rep. Vito Fossella: bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000440 2002 proclamation (1st anniversary): georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020904-10.html 2013 proclamation: whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/10/presidential-proclamation-patriot-day-and-national-day-service-and-remem 2014 proclamation: whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/09/04/presidential-proclamation-national-days-prayer-and-remembrance-2014 9/11 memorial: 911memorial.org/ Tribute of Light: commercialobserver/2014/09/tribute-in-light-to-shine-all-night-on-911-anniversary/; blog.pegasuslighting/2010/09/a-911-tribute-in-light/ Serve America Act (PL111-13; pt. 1, section 1802, page 1553): gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ13/content-detail.html Pentagon: projects.washingtonpost/911victims/pentagon/ New York: longisland.newsday/911-anniversary/victims/; edition.cnn/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-name/ Pennsylvania: honorflight93.org/remember/?fa=35-minutes ; honorflight93.org/remember/?fa=passengers-crew Examples of remembrance events: ksdk/story/news/local/2014/09/10/march-to-the-arch-2014-honoring--september-11-victims/15397263/; firehero.org/events/9-11-stair-climbs/; nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/days-service/september-11th-national-day-service-and-remembrance;
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:55:04 +0000
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