September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance

The saying goes, when it rains it pours. This past week it has been pouring, figuratively that is. Last weekend we witnessed from afar the beautiful Maui Remembers paddle out to honor the 1,100 still listed as missing in Maui. The beginning of the week marked the 22nd anniversary of September 11th. As if that wasn’t overwhelming enough, came the devastating earthquake in Morocco that has killed thousands and displaced so many more. The loss is beyond overwhelming and the magnitude of each event alone is enormous but combined it is just too much.

This week we had prepared an entirely different post but with all of this happening in the same week, I found myself overwhelmed. I thought perhaps, you might be too. There is a reason why many of us don’t watch the news at night any more because some days it is simply too much. This past week is certainly one of those times.

However, it is in tragedy and loss that we often see the best of humanity. This weekend we saw thousands paddle out to honor those lost in Maui in a beautiful tribute. Maui is still rallying each day with meals, clothing and support for those whilst literally everything. In Morocco, we witnessed huge groups digging through the rubble in search of survivors despite their own loss. On Monday, we heard the names called one by one at the 911 Tribute. Each loss is a reminder of a life that mattered.

In moments of loss, there is nothing anyone can say to give comfort. There are no words. In time, you see the rebirth. A fire brings a new forest, an earthquake a new city and a death brings a rebirth. These are the stories we see and hear each week at Charity Matters. Humans with unbelievable loss who find it within themself to use their grief as fuel to help another. Week after week for twelve years I’ve heard these stories and they never get old, ever. The human spirit is remarkable in its ability to adapt, evolve, grow and serve.

So as sad and overwhelming as this past week has been around our globe, I am hopeful. I know that out of all this horrible loss, good will come and heal and spread. It always has and always will, in time.

CHARITY MATTERS.

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“No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”

Virgil

Today is September 11th. A day that none of us will ever forget. We all know where we were when we heard the tragic news. The pain we all felt and the helplessness. While this date will always be a day tinged with sadness it has been deemed by Congress as a National Day of Service and Remembrance since 2009 because of two remarkable men.

The Back Story

Their names are David Paine and Jay Winuk. Two friends determined to ensure that this day is recognized not as a day of evil but as a day of good. Jay’s brother, Glenn, was an attorney in lower Manhatten, as well as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. Glenn lost his life on September 11th. Jay said, “Glenn did what he was trained to do. He had the skills and courage to run into the burning World Trade Center, towards danger, to save lives. Glenn always put others ahead of himself, and he sacrificed his life the way he lived it, helping others in need.”

The Action

In 2002, David and Jay set out to start a nonprofit called MyGoodDeed.org and reached out to the 9/11 community for support. Their goals were to establish a nationally recognized day of service and then build national support for 9/11 Day. Their long term mission was to ensure that 9/11 Day was transformed into a day of service and an enduring tribute for those who were lost and injured on 9/11.

The Result

Nine years after beginning their journey they accomplished their goal of having 9/11 Day recognized as a National Day of Service and remembrance. Today, eleven years later, 9/11 Day is the nation’s largest annual day of charitable engagement with nearly 30 million Americans volunteering, support causes they care about and performing good deeds in tribute to those lives lost that day. MyGoodDeed became 9/11 Day.org, a nonprofit that supports this day and provides resources (like these in the video below )for ways to volunteer and serve.

Your Action

David said,“Ultimately we wanted something positive to come from the loss of so many innocent people in such a terrible way. We didn’t want terrorists to forever define how 9/11 would be remembered. We wanted to focus instead on how our nation came together, the spirit of unity and compassion shared by so many.”

Jay said, “As a 9/11 family member, I wanted to find a very special and significant way to honor my late brother, along with the many others who died with him.”

What good deed can you do today?

Charity Matters

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