Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 2016

Proclamation 9491 of September 9, 2016

Patriot Day and National Day of Service and
Remembrance, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Fifteen years ago, nearly 3,000 innocent lives--men,
women, and children who had been going about their
normal routines--were taken from us, depriving families
and loved ones of a lifetime of precious moments. But
the acts of terror of September 11, 2001, sought to do
more than hurt our people and bring down buildings:
They sought to break our spirit and destroy the
enduring values that unite us as Americans. In the
years that followed, our capacity to love and to hope
has guided us forward as we worked to rebuild, more
sound and resilient than ever before. With the hearts
of those we lost held faithfully in our memories, we
reaffirm the unwavering optimism and everlasting
strength that brought us together in our darkest hour,
and we resolve to give of ourselves in service to
others in that same spirit.

The pain inflicted on our Nation on September 11 was
felt by people of every race, background, and faith.
Though many young Americans have grown up without
knowing firsthand the horrors of that day, their lives
have been shaped by it. They hear of the many acts of
service that occurred--coworkers who led others to
safety, passengers who stormed a cockpit, and first
responders who charged directly into the fire. Many
Americans did everything they could to help survivors,
from volunteering their time to donating food,
clothing, and blood. And many signed up to don our
Nation's uniform to prove to the world that no act of
terror could eclipse the strength or character of our
country.

United by a common creed, a commitment to lifting up
our neighbors, and a belief that we are stronger when
we stand by one another, we must find the courage to
carry forward the legacy of those who stepped up in our
time of need. By devoting ourselves to each other and
recognizing that we are a part of something bigger than
ourselves--just as heroic patriots did on September
11--we are paying tribute to their sacrifices. On this
National Day of Service and Remembrance, we must ensure
that darkness is no match for the light we shine by
engaging in acts of service and charity. I invite all
Americans to observe this day with compassionate and
selfless deeds that embody the values that define our
people, and to visit www.Serve.gov to find
opportunities to give back to their communities.

America endures in the tenacity of our survivors, and
in the dedication of those who keep us safe. Today, we
honor all who lost their lives in the heartbreaking
attacks of September 11, and all who made the ultimate
sacrifice for our country in the years that followed.
In memory of these beautiful souls, we vow to keep
moving forward. Let us have confidence in the values
that make us American, the liberties that make us a
beacon to the world, and the unity we sustain every
year on this anniversary. Above all, let us stand as
strong as ever before and recognize that together,
there is nothing we cannot overcome.

By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001
(Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated
September 11 of each year as ``Patriot Day,'' and by
Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, the
Congress has

requested the observance of September 11 as an annually
recognized ``National Day of Service and Remembrance.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim September
11, 2016, as Patriot Day and National Day of Service
and Remembrance. I call upon all departments, agencies,
and instrumentalities of the United States to display
the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot
Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in
honor of the individuals who lost their lives on
September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the
United States and its Territories and interested
organizations and individuals to join in this
observance. I call upon the people of the United States
to participate in community service in honor of those
our Nation lost, to observe this day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities, including remembrance
services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning
at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the
innocent victims who perished as a result of the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two
thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and forty-first.