Ever since 2002, nonprofit 9/11 Day has led an annual effort to honor the lives lost in the September 11, 2001 attacks through acts of public service.
Each year, tens of millions of Americans take part in volunteering and acts of kindness to mark the anniversary. This year, as the country marks 25 years since 9/11, the nonprofit has a goal of generating one million good deeds by the 11th this year.
With dozens of nonprofit partners, there are a multitude of ways people can get involved.
One standout initiative is called Together We Grow, a new project with One Tree Planted.
On September 9, it all kicked off with the planting of a 15-foot willow oak tree in Battery Park in New York City, at the Labyrinth of Contemplation, a space created to honor the victims of the attacks.
In addition to representatives from 9/11 Day, One Tree Planted, The Battery Conservancy, and AmeriCorps, community members and families of those who lost their lives worked together to restore the gathering space.
Most of The Battery has been closed for waterfront restoration in recent years, and this event is among the first to take place in the newly reopened space.
A press release about the event said it was an opportunity for participants to “reflect on the resilience and survival that have defined New York in the years since 9/11,” and thus “remember, connect, and leave something good behind.”
Following the tree-planting on Sept. 9, a year-long campaign to plant 3,000 new trees nationwide will follow, honoring the 2,977 victims of 9/11.
One Tree Planted, AmeriCorps, and 9/11 Day will support the communities engaged in the project in the coming months.
“Twenty-five years later, we continue to find ways to remember the lives that were lost and the people whose lives were forever changed,” said Hank Lynch, president and CEO of One Tree Planted.
“A tree is a simple but powerful symbol of that remembrance. It gives us a chance to honor the past while doing something good for the future. Together We Grow is about coming together, caring for a place we share, and creating something living that can continue to grow for generations.”
One Tree Planted has service opportunities beyond 9/11 Day and works with corporate partners to support reforestation efforts in the United States and beyond. Additionally, anyone can plant a tree in memory of someone they have lost through the organization. Memorial trees start at $10.
“Each tree becomes part of something larger: a living reminder that even in the face of profound loss, we can continue to care for one another, care for the places we call home, and help something new take root,” a press release stated.
The sentiment remains true of remembering those lost on 9/11.
“On 9/11 Day, we come together to honor those we lost by caring for one another and the communities we call home,” Jay Winuk, executive vice president and co-founder at 9/11 Day and a 9/11 family member, said in a statement.
“Together We Grow is a beautiful example of how service can bring people together, create connection and turn remembrance into something positive and lasting.”
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