Utah Residents Mark 10th Anniversary of 9/11 by Serving Others

Volunteers across the state serve as part of a National Day of Service

[Salt Lake City] – September 11, 2011, marks the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our country.  This is the perfect opportunity for Utahns to honor those who died and those who served during this time in our country’s history.

Who can forget the morning of September 11, 2001, when nineteen members of al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airliners. Shortly after taking control, the hijackers crashed two of the planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, VA and a fourth into a rural Pennsylvania field after passengers attempted to retake control of the plane.  Over 3,000 people lost their lives that day along with many more fighting to protect our freedoms and keep us safe.  Some of our Utah friends and family lost their lives in these attacks and many Utahns volunteered their services in the aftermath.

"I, along with the Utah Commission on Volunteers, would like to personally invite you to join us in honoring Utah’s heroes, our shining examples of service and sacrifice, by participating in Utah’s 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance,” said Lt. Governor Greg Bell.  “This is your opportunity to serve those that so selflessly serve us by getting involved.”

The focus of service for the 9/11 National Day of Service is on active soldiers, military families, veterans, and first responders in the week leading up to and culminating on September 11, 2011.  There are a number of opportunities available to people of every age. 

First, check our website, volunteers.utah.gov, and either 1) Sign On and Sign Up online to show your support, share your story, and print a certificate of participation, 2) Volunteer and Serve by organizing a service project or volunteering with the organizations that serve these groups, 3) Say “Thank You” by writing a letter, making a visit, or doing a good deed.

 

The Utah Commission on Volunteers is also working with seven volunteer connector organizations throughout the state to provide opportunities for Utah residents to serve on this year’s 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance.  These activities will take place between September 7-11, 2011.

 

In Cache Valley volunteers will focus on providing direct services to the children of military families and providing an avenue for increased community awareness.  Military children will be invited to participate in outdoor activities and team building exercises.  This event is the beginning of an ongoing mentoring program in Cache Valley.

Volunteers in Washington County are working with the Veterans Coalition with a focus on homeless veterans and military families.  The community wants to raise awareness about veterans’ issues and will do this through a series of projects targeted at veterans.

Volunteers in Weber County, working through United Way of Northern Utah, are teaming up with local schools to read stories to children about local first responders and military personnel.  Included in each book will be stories about Brady Howell, a young man from Ogden who lost his life on 9/11 at the Pentagon.  Books will be given to each of the children.  The Ogden Standard Examiner will video tape and record stories being read by parents who are being deployed and given to their children to enjoy while they are on deployment.

A variety of opportunities are available with the United Way of Salt Lake and their partners.  Daylilly Arts Inc will involve children in creating art that represents military and display these in libraries and city/county buildings. Letters to Soldiers will have volunteers collect needed items for care packages for soldiers and write cards to accompany them.  Kostopulos Dream Foundation will transport veterans to and from a trail ride site where they can ride horses or a pony cart along scenic Settlement Canyon and enjoy a barbeque afterwards. The Memorial Hill Veterans Restoration Project in Midway, Utah will finalize their veterans memorial and need volunteers to help with engraving and last minute preparations.  The Salt Lake County Volunteer Services volunteers are building a memorial to military and veterans at the county complex. 

Volunteers from the Six County areas (Sevier, Sanpete, Millard, Piute, Wayne, and Juab counties) will make quilts for the Triple Deuce, activated on June 1, 2011 and deployed to Iraq in August, 2011.  These light weight, durable blankets are made with camouflage fabric and can be used as a pillow for concealment or for shade.  Organizers will collaborate with local schools to have school children make cards to attach to each of the blankets.

Residents in Duchesne, Daggett, and Uintah counties will work with the Uintah Basin Association of Governments and RSVP will dedicate a day of service to veterans in their communities.  The day will consist of a food drive in collaboration with the local elementary schools, yard clean up and beautification for each of the American Legion Posts located within these counties, and will culminate with a dinner at the park for veterans and their families.

 “In commemoration of this event Utahns across the state and people throughout the country will be serving and thanking our active soldiers, military families, veterans, and first responders in the week leading up to and culminating on September 11, 2011,” said Shar Lewis, Executive Director of the Utah Commission on Volunteers.  “There are so many activities taking place throughout the state, and so many opportunities, that everyone can participate on some level.”

To learn more about participating in a variety of projects and events in commemoration of 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, please visit volunteers.utah.gov.  For interview and photo opportunities, please contact:

• Sherilee Griffiths, Cache Valley Volunteer Center, 435-770-0748 or 435-753-1745
• Carol Hollowell, Volunteer Center of Washington County, 435-674-5757
• Leslie Herold, United Way of Northern Utah, 801-399-5584, Ext. 111
• Amy Bosworth, United Way of Salt Lake, 801-746-2576
• Shara Bastian, Six County areas (Sevier, Sanpete, Millard, Piute, Wayne, and Juab counties), 435-893-0735
• Sandy Whalen, Uintah Basin Association of Governments and RSVP, 435-722-4518

The mission of the Utah Commission on Volunteers, an office of the Lieutenant Governor, is to improve communities through service and volunteering. It furthers its mission by administering federal funds for AmeriCorps and National Service programs and increasing volunteerism by promoting community collaboration, volunteer recognition, youth and older adult service and providing training and resources for those working with volunteers. For more information or to find volunteering opportunities around the state visit www.volunteers.utah.gov.

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