On April 21, 2009, President Barack Obama signed legislation authorizing the establishment of September 11th as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance as part of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
The historic moment realized a goal of MyGoodDeed.org, an organization started by September 11th family members and friends which has been advocating for the September 11th Day of Service since 2003. “This legislation creates a historic, enduring and compassionate legacy that truly honors the September 11th victims and their families, and all those who spontaneously contributed in the immediate aftermath of September 11th,” said David Paine, founder and president of MyGoodDeed.org.
Under the new law, the anniversary of September 11th will be observed in ways similar to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, although it intentionally won’t be a federal holiday. “Our goal is not for September 11th to become a government-designated day off,” said MyGoodDeed co-founder Jay S. Winuk, whose brother, attorney and volunteer firefighter Glenn J. Winuk, died in the line of duty on September 11th. “Rather, we seek to activate millions of people, businesses and organizations to voluntarily engage in some form of service each September 11th.”
The new legislation authorizes the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees federal national service programs, to make grants and provide assistance to non-profits and other groups to organize September 11th service and remembrance activities. MyGoodDeed plans to organize the largest day of service in U.S. history on the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist atacks.
For more information visit MyGoodDeed.org
