Thursday, September 11, is Patriot Day, the National Day of Service and Remembrance, honoring the memory of those killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001, and reminding us of the country's resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity.
The 24th anniversary of that day commemorates the deaths of nearly 3,000 people in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and in the field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We also remember the more than 400 heroic first responders who lost their lives trying to save others, and those who suffered lasting health impacts from that day.
The terrorist attacks led to conversations and reflection on our American identity, security, patriotism, and service, and to the strong bonds of unity formed in the long days that followed, when we came together as a nation.
Patriot Day began in 2002, and the addition of a National Day of Service and Remembrance in 2009 underscored the significance of channeling the mood of unity into acts of kindness and service. We honor the spirit of sacrifice made that day by engaging in charitable services as a tribute to the victims, survivors, and those who rose up in response to the attacks.
We will remember again this year by flying the flag at half-staff and observing a country-wide moment of silence beginning at 7:46am (CST), the time the first plane struck the north tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. In memory of all the victims, in gratitude for all who responded.
We will always honor and remember every life that was lost on 9/11, and those who helped to rebuild. In an incredibly dark time in our history, it was our unity that helped us through.
Take a moment tomorrow, Patriot Day, to honor those lives lost, and consider what we stand for as a nation and how we can work together to make our nation and the world a more peaceful and better place for all.