This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of one of American history‘s darkest days: the attack on September 11, 2001.
Patriot Day, every September 11th, gives all of us time to reflect on the devastating terror attacks that took nearly 3,000 lives. We commemorate those who we lost and give thanks to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line. We encourage you to take a moment to consider what we stand for as a nation and how we can work together to make the world a better place for all.
BY THE NUMBERS
2977 – the number of innocent lives lost on 9/11.
343 – the number of lives lost on 9/11 who were New York City firefighters.
23 – the number of lives lost on 9/11 who were NYPD officers.
37 – the number of lives lost on 9/11 who were police officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
19 – the number of terrorists who hijacked the planes on 9/11.
60% – the percentage of victims of the 9/11 attacks whose remains have been identified.
3:1 – the ratio of men to women who died.
184 – the number of people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.
36,000 – the units of blood donated to the New York Blood Center on 9/11.
300 – the number of firefighters on leave for respiratory problems from 9/11 by January 2002.
How to Honor Patriot Day
Moments of Silence:
Join the 9/11 Memorial in honoring the victims of 9/11 by observing a moment of silence. Although the most recognized moment of silence is when the first plane crashed into the first tower at 8:46 am Eastern Daylight Time, there are five other times where people take a moment of silence. A breakdown of these moments is as follows:
- 8:46 am- The exact instance when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower
- 9:03 am- The moment when United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower
- 9:37 am- The moment that American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon
- 10:02 am- The moment when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field outside Shanksville
- 10:29 am- The moment when the North Tower collapsed
Stair Climbs:
To honor the 343 firefighters lost, you can climb or walk the equivalent of 110 stories, or 2,200 steps. This tradition started in Denver in 2005 to support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
“We climb to ensure that the fallen firefighters of September 11 are never forgotten, we complete their journey through dedication, training and physical fitness,” reads the mission statement of the Denver 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
Fly an American Flag at Half Mast:
‘Half-Mast’ refers to a flag position when it is halfway between the top and bottom of the staff. Flying your office flag at half-mast is a sign of respect and grief. It is believed the practice originated in the early 16th century when a navy crew flew their flag at half-mast to pay tribute to their fallen commander. The U.S. flag is flown at half-mast following the deaths of high-ranking government officials, various holidays, or in times of national crisis.
By flying your flag at half-mast this 9/11 Remembrance Day, you can pay tribute to all those that lost their lives 20 years ago.
Volunteer:
There are many opportunities to volunteer in honor of 9/11. Visit www.911day.org/volunteer for more information.
Donate Blood:
Blood donations soared in the days following 9/11 with Americans looking for ways to provide immediate assistance to those who were injured in the attacks.
Today, the Red Cross’ national blood supply has reached a 15 year low, going to a local blood bank and donating would be a great way to make a contribution to your community in honor of 9/11.
Watch a 9/11 Documentary:
Learn more about what happened on that terrible day and hear stories from survivors and remember the memory of so many heroes sacrifices.
Share Your Story
Where were you on 9/11? What do you remember about hearing the news? What did you do in the aftermath of the attacks? What’s changed in your life since then? Share your story with your friends and family to remember and honor the day.
