On this 23rd anniversary of that day in 2001, we remember the deaths of nearly 3,000 people in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, DC, in the field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the over 400 heroic first responders who lost their lives trying to save others.
At the same time, we remember the unbreakable bonds of unity we felt in the long days that followed and how 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 engage in charitable services as a tribute to the victims, survivors, and those who rose up in response to the attacks, demonstrating the power of volunteer service as a way to honor and remember tragedy and triumph. We bring people together in new ways to build stronger, more resilient communities and celebrate our diversity.
We will always honor and remember every life that was lost on 9/11 and those who helped to rebuild.
We will remember again this year by flying the flag at half-staff and observing a country-wide moment of silence beginning at 7:46a.m. (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 and in gratitude for all who responded.
Take a moment on Wednesday, Patriot Day, to honor those lives lost, consider what we stand for as a nation, and how we can work together to make the world a more peaceful and better place for all.