Honor the heroes of 9/11 by volunteering in your community
By Barbara Stewart, CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service
September 11, 2001, will forever be known as a day of tragedy in the United States. But in the 18 years since, this day has also come to represent something else: hope.
In the hours, days, and weeks following that fateful day, Americans did what they do best. In communities from coast to coast, Americans came together to help neighbors and strangers alike. This spirit of unity allowed the nation to heal then, and that same spirit can help us now.
Each year, millions of Americans honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 through service as part of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. This annual event is an outgrowth of a campaign led by the families of 9/11 to honor their loved ones, turning a day of grief into a day of action. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, was designated by Congress to lead this day of service and remembrance.
The annual call for our nation to remember and serve on 9/11 reminds us of the tremendous healing power that comes from simple acts of service.
As the CEO of CNCS, I have the opportunity to see the power of service and volunteering every day. There are thousands of ways to share your talents wherever you live.
- Millions of young students need tutors to help them build the skills to keep pace with their studies.
- Mentors are needed to guide children toward the right path and give them another caring adult in their lives.
- While many of us are experiencing the benefits of a strong economy, there are millions who lack basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter.
- Retiring baby boomers can find new purpose and meaning in their lives by lending their time and talents to address local challenges.
- Many of our seniors crave companionship and community, and people of any age can be the ones who bring joy to their lives.
When we volunteer, and work together toward a common purpose, we discover the roots of our communities and look past the differences that may divide us.
When citizens give their time to improve the places where they live and serve, they also encourage millions of others to join them, reinforcing the bonds that make our nation strong.
Through their service, Americans get to know more about their country, their communities, and the people they serve. They embrace the spirit of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Through service everyday citizens become everyday heroes.
On its worst day, America showed its best. This year’s September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is a chance to recall the spirit of unity that swept the nation 18 years ago and to pledge your own act of patriotic service. I encourage each of us to come together and create the better tomorrow we all wish to see.
Barbara L. Stewart is the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that leads the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps national service programs and supports volunteering across America. To learn more about the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, visit nationalservice.gov/911Day. A version of this article previously appeared on the National Service Blog.
