How to Honor Those Who Died on 9/11: Best Practices to Pay Tribute to and Commemorate Those Lost
Join in on the day of remembrance by taking part in one of these commemorations
As September 11 quickly approaches, the memories of that horrific day in 2001 can begin to flood the mind, along with the pain associated with the attacks and the aftermath that changed the United States forever. Whether you are closely linked to the day, know someone impacted by its tragic events or simply observe the anniversary each year, everyone remembers where they were on 9/11/2001.
The anniversary of the New York City, Pentagon and thwarted Washington, D.C., attacks can be an exceedingly difficult one, spurring many of us into action. If you are looking to honor the victims of 9/11 or commemorate the day itself, there are a few things that you can do to make it a day of remembrance.
1. Volunteer to honor those who died on 9/11
The simplest way to give back to your community and show support for those going through a challenging time as the anniversary of 9/11 approaches is to volunteer. One volunteer opportunity is to join in the Meal Pack through 9/11 Day. The organization was created by David Paine and Jay Winuk, who were looking to give back to those who lost a loved one in the attacks.
9/11 Day has transformed a day of sadness and grief into a day of volunteer and service. One of 9/11 Day’s biggest volunteer events is Meal Packs, a nationwide volunteer service project where thousands of volunteers come together to “assemble millions of nutritious meals for Americans at risk of hunger.” Read more and sign up here.
2. Moment of Silence to honor those who died on 9/11
Another quite uncomplicated way to show your support for those lost and those experiencing a loss is to join in a moment of silence. Throughout the 9/11 commemoration ceremony, which takes place on September 11 of every year, there are multiple opportunities to join in on a moment of silence.
There are many other observances around the nation where you can take part in a moment of silence, including the Tribute in Light in New York City, where the twin beams of light shine, “recalling the Twin Towers and honoring those killed.” Many other buildings in the city also take part in this by lighting their facades and rooftops in blue to commemorate the day.
3. Stair Climbs to honor the firefighters and emergency services who battled 9/11
If you are looking to embody the definition of service – that of firefighters and first responders – you can take part in stair climbing. This is a wonderful way to honor the 343 first responders who lost their lives in the attacks, risking . their own safety to climb the stairs of the Twin Towers, which at its highest point was 110 stories high.
The sponsor behind these stair climbs is the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, who created this event not only to honor the memory of the fallen first responders, but to also symbolize the tremendous effort and strength they put into their heroic journey to save others.
4. 9/11 Heroes Run
Another way to be actively involved in the efforts is to participate in the 9/11 Heroes Run. Sponsored by the Travis Manion Foundation, runners can use this opportunity to honor the sacrifices of not only those lost on the day, but those of veterans and civilians alike from wars that began afterward.
These runs take place through most of September, with some going into the beginning of October. Runners can participate from all over the nation, or you can join virtually. You can also join or host a Shadow Event, which is a small, community-based 9/11 Heroes run, where locals can join in. See all the details here.
