{"id":8211,"date":"2014-09-11T15:36:58","date_gmt":"2014-09-11T15:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=8211"},"modified":"2023-09-11T11:49:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T15:49:27","slug":"patriot-day-remembering-911","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/patriot-day-remembering-911.html","title":{"rendered":"Patriot Day: Remembering 9\/11"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Scott Phillips searches old newspapers to learn more about the history of Patriot Day, and discusses current commemorative events on this day. Scott is a genealogical historian and owner of\u00a0 genealogy services.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Every generation has certain historic days that are seared into their collective memories\u2014days that we each know exactly where we were and what we were doing when we got the news. For folks in my parents\u2019 generation, one of those days was 7 December 1941, \u201ca date which will live in infamy\u201d\u2014the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. For many of us \u201cBoomers\u201d it is 22 November 1963, the day that President Kennedy was assassinated. Unfortunately we added 11 September 2001, the day of the attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the crash of Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to this list.<\/p>\n

September 11th is now officially known as Patriot Day, or more fully \u201cPatriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.\u201d While not a single one of us will ever forget, or be the same, after \u201c9\/11,\u201d it is a powerful testament that this day has also taken on aspects of service to America as well as remembrance.<\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
Photo: American flags flying at half-staff on Columbus Circle, Washington, D.C., on Patriot Day 11 September 2013. Source: T. H. Kelly; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I turned to GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> to learn more about the history of this day and how it has been commemorated in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Legislation Signed for Patriot Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

President George W. Bush signed the congressional resolution creating Patriot Day on 18 December 2001, as reported in this Connecticut newspaper article.<\/p>\n

\"Bush<\/a>
Daily Advocate (Stamford, Connecticut), 19 December 2001, page 14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Later, on 21 April 2009, President Obama signed into law the \u201cEdward M. Kennedy Serve America Act,\u201d which designated September 11th as our \u201cNational Day of Service and Remembrance\u201d as well as Patriot Day.<\/p>\n

Past Commemorative Events<\/strong><\/p>\n

In this 2011 article from a Michigan newspaper, Chris Sizemore, executive director of Volunteer Kalamazoo, said it well:<\/p>\n

9\/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is a great chance to reclaim the unifying spirit that Americans had after the tragedy of Sept. 11. Stronger neighborhoods make for stronger communities, and in turn, a stronger nation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"10<\/a>
Kalamazoo Gazette (Kalamazoo, Michigan), 4 September 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Similarly, this 2013 Texas newspaper article explained that in their community there would be a memorial service at 8:30 a.m. on Sept 11th, which would include the observation of our national moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. (EDT).<\/p>\n

\"We<\/a>
Meridian Tribune (Meridian, Texas), 28 August 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance began in 2002 and now reaches every community across America.<\/p>\n

Current Commemorative Events<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you visit the website http:\/\/www.nationalservice.gov<\/a> you can easily find volunteer opportunities to help in your community. The site offers anyone the option of entering your interests (they give the examples of September 11, Disaster Preparation, Military Families, Veterans, etc.). You can then add your city, state, or ZIP Code and your volunteer opportunities will be listed for you. When I entered my ZIP Code and \u201cSeptember 11\u201d I received dozens of opportunities listed.<\/p>\n

There is also the 9\/11 Day organization at http:\/\/www.911day.org<\/a>. This organization reports that in 2013 more than 47 million people throughout the United States and in 150 other countries observed 9\/11 by volunteering.<\/p>\n

In my own hometown there will be a community remembrance celebration sponsored by such diverse organizations as our local community college, city government, JROTC, an American Legion Post, and the Guardian Riders.<\/p>\n

You can follow and stay up-to-date on what you would like to do as a volunteer on September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance on Twitter @nationalservice<\/a>, @ServeDotGov<\/a>, and @911day<\/a>, or on Facebook at http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/911day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related 9\/11 Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n