What is the National Day of Service?
I thought it was Patriot Day. I thought that it was a day of remembrance for September 11th, 2001. It is those things but it is also a day to give back to our community.
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, “September 11th is Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. On this day Americans across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks, first responders, and the many who have risen in service to defend freedom.”
How can we give back? How can we make sure those lives that were lost are not forgotten? How do we remember that day? Sadness, anger, hurt, shock, a myriad of emotions happened that day and the days, weeks, months following.
I remember waking up to my mom saying that there were planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. At 17 I did not know what that meant. I did not know that it would mean the man I fell in love with at 19 would eventually enlist in the Marines and deploy. I did not know that I would be sitting here trying to figure out how to explain this to my children. I have talked to them about the military and how daddy protected our country and how he had to go away to serve our country, I think this year I will start explaining that some really bad people hurt our country and that sometimes people do really mean things.
This year, I will explain to them that in order to combat all the evil in the world we will go out of our way to make it better. We will help others, we will donate to others, we will smile and wave at strangers, and we will be kind.
Truthfully I have not taken the kids anywhere to volunteer because I am pretty sure it would be a circus. We donate food and clothes when our local karate studio does drives and I explain to my older children that we help and love others by giving what we do not need.
In the years I’ve dealt with grief I have found the best way to remember someone is to honor them by giving back. I understand the National Day of Service. We feel better when we can take our minds off of our grief. On September 11th let us take that sadness tied up in those memories and do something to give back. Sign up to volunteer somewhere, run a donation drive, make hygiene bags and hand them to homeless, go to a retirement home. There are so many opportunities to give back.
Below are some websites where you can find volunteer opportunities:
I have to give a minute to remember all those who passed away that day, the first responders, the people that jumped in and helped without hesitation, the ones who sacrificed, the ones who still sacrifice to keep our country safe.
Remember “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
