A day of US terror becomes one of service
Jason J. Clark/Contributing Writer
Issue date: 9/20/09 Section: Neighborhood
It rained Friday morning as if the skies were also crying in remembrance of the 2,752 who were lost eight years ago in the terrorists attacks on America on September 11, 2001. Umbrellas dotted the skies on the western side of the Pentagon Building at the Pentagon Memorial to commemorate the 184 lives lost when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.
Friends and family members read the names of those who perished in the attack. President Obama laid a wreath at the site in remembrance and spoke to those attending the memorial.
"We recall the beauty and meaning of their lives," he said. "No passage of time, no dark skies can dull the meaning of that moment."
Similar ceremonies took place at ground zero in New York City and the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. This year though was different. President Obama issued a proclamation designating September 11 will a federal National Day of Service and Remembrance.
"Let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as Americans, united not only in our grief, but in our resolve to stand with one another, to stand up for the country we all love," Obama said.
Ellie Gunderson, a senior sociology major at Georgetown University, has a brother serving in Iraq as result of 9/11. She said she loves the proclamation.
"It's a great way to remember those who had their lives taken away," she said. "And it goes along with Obama trying to get more people into serving their communities."
She described her brother as a young man with a huge passion for government and he wanted to defend his country which is why he enlisted. And while she doesn't know the direct pain of some of the families who lost loved ones, she feels like she can relate to them.
"People have family really dying over there every day," she said. "It is a scary situation to know he is over there and to not really know what or how he is doing."
While that fear is present everyday as her brother serves on his second tour, Ellie remembers it is nothing like when he first enlisted as she prepared for her freshman year of college. "That was really difficult," she says. "It was hard transitioning to college and then shortly after he gets deployed."
In DC, volunteers participated in more than 50 service events. For example, the Armed Services YMCA, a private provider of educational, assembled 200 volunteers at RFK Stadium to support Operation Kid Comfort. They designed photo-transfer quilts for children of deployed service men and women.
MyGoodDeed Inc., a national nonprofit organization, led the effort for September 11 to become the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Jay S. Winuk, co-founder of the organization, said that organized service opportunities were available in all 50 states.
"We believe that even a small gesture, a single good deed, is all it takes to make a difference," he said. "Simply put, anyone who wants to give back on 9/11 or any day of the year can do so."
Friends and family members read the names of those who perished in the attack. President Obama laid a wreath at the site in remembrance and spoke to those attending the memorial.
"We recall the beauty and meaning of their lives," he said. "No passage of time, no dark skies can dull the meaning of that moment."
Similar ceremonies took place at ground zero in New York City and the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. This year though was different. President Obama issued a proclamation designating September 11 will a federal National Day of Service and Remembrance.
"Let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as Americans, united not only in our grief, but in our resolve to stand with one another, to stand up for the country we all love," Obama said.
Ellie Gunderson, a senior sociology major at Georgetown University, has a brother serving in Iraq as result of 9/11. She said she loves the proclamation.
"It's a great way to remember those who had their lives taken away," she said. "And it goes along with Obama trying to get more people into serving their communities."
She described her brother as a young man with a huge passion for government and he wanted to defend his country which is why he enlisted. And while she doesn't know the direct pain of some of the families who lost loved ones, she feels like she can relate to them.
"People have family really dying over there every day," she said. "It is a scary situation to know he is over there and to not really know what or how he is doing."
While that fear is present everyday as her brother serves on his second tour, Ellie remembers it is nothing like when he first enlisted as she prepared for her freshman year of college. "That was really difficult," she says. "It was hard transitioning to college and then shortly after he gets deployed."
In DC, volunteers participated in more than 50 service events. For example, the Armed Services YMCA, a private provider of educational, assembled 200 volunteers at RFK Stadium to support Operation Kid Comfort. They designed photo-transfer quilts for children of deployed service men and women.
MyGoodDeed Inc., a national nonprofit organization, led the effort for September 11 to become the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Jay S. Winuk, co-founder of the organization, said that organized service opportunities were available in all 50 states.
"We believe that even a small gesture, a single good deed, is all it takes to make a difference," he said. "Simply put, anyone who wants to give back on 9/11 or any day of the year can do so."
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