9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance: I Remember. I Serve.

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"September 11 should not only be a day for mourning — it should be a day to think about our neighbors, our community, and our country. We can take a tragic day in our nation’s history and turn it into a force for good." — U.S. Senator Charles Schumer

Video: 9/11: Stories of Survival and Loss

 

On April 21 of this year President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which for the first time includes federal authorization that establishes September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Commemorating this day not only helps create a triumphant legacy — for victims and their loved ones left behind — but helps to rekindle the spirit of service that emerged in America on September 11, 2001. On September 11, 2009, individuals and organizations are encouraged to perform a good deed, volunteer, or engage in another charitable activity.

Since the launch of United We Serve in June, Americans from all walks of life have responded enthusiastically to the President's call to service. By joining with friends and neighbors, they have replenished food banks, tutored and mentored children during the summer months, provided health services, supported veterans and military families, restored parks and public lands, and given back in countless other ways.

To continue to support United We Serve and observe the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, your organization can:

  1. Post your Day of Service activities on Serve.gov — especially those occurring September 7–13.
  2. Highlight your service event in the media or on the Serve.gov blog by sharing the details with Corporation staff.
  3. Use this day to mobilize current volunteers to serve on September 11 and to renew their commitment to service throughout the year.
  4. Spread the word about your Day of Service and Remembrance activities by using United We Serve media tools available at Serve.gov.
    • Use the designated tagline in your media materials and communications — "I Remember. I Serve." This phrase is a unifying element to commemorate the day and to encourage Americans everywhere to both remember the events of 9/11 and to honor this memory through acts of service.
    • You can personalize the tagline — "I Remember, on 9/11/2001, I was _____. This year, I Serve ____." Incorporate this theme into news releases, promotional materials, internal and external communications, and websites.
    • Associated graphics and web banners are available at the Serve.gov Link to Us page.

In honor of the National Day of Service and Remembrance, the Corporation for National and Community Service will be supporting service activities in all 50 states and highlighting events nationwide.

Contact your Corporation state office or state commission for additional assistance with your organization's 9/11 Day of Service plans and United We Serve efforts.

Additional Resources

Visit the September 11: National Day of Service and Remembrance website to post your plans to serve during the week of September 11; find volunteer opportunities (powered by the new volunteer opportunity aggregator All For Good); to download service project toolkits; to learn more about the events of September 11, 2001; to hear stories from survivors and family members, or to make a donation of $9.11.

From the Resource Center Library

From the Effective Practices Collection