Service and Remembrance: Honoring the Heroes of 9/11

By Abby Hurst, Vice President of U.S. Programs

“The service project we completed on 9/11 for our local firefighting heroes was absolutely amazing. Almost life-changing. To see men on the force talk about their experiences, their careers, and their perspectives on the 9/11 tragedy was interesting and captivating. I never thought that the fire fighters would be so appreciative of us and what we did. It was truly an emotional experience.”– Neha Malhotra

Nine years after the tragic events of 9/11 our country is still healing. In that spirit, September 11th has become the National Day of Service and Remembrance – a day where every American can honor those who lost their lives through service. To participate in the National Day of Service and Remembrance, buildOn students from Bridgeport, Stamford and Stratford partnered with their local fire stations to honor the firefighters whose lives were lost on 9/11. The day began with the firefighters sharing their personal experiences of that day, speaking about their deep commitment to serving their communities and reflecting on the brotherhood that they share.

buildOn students also shared their memories of 9/11, and although at that time they were only in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grades, they all distinctly remembered where they were when they found out about the tragic events of the day. The students then decorated a flag with the names of each of the 343 firefighters who died in the rescue efforts on 9/11.

It was a powerful and beautiful way to remember. By taking the time to remember, their lives were honored, the service and sacrifice valued, and the community strengthened.