[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 63359-63360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22294]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 178 / Wednesday, September 14, 2016 
/ Presidential Documents  

[[Page 63359]]


                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

[[Page 63360]]

                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.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-22294
Filed 9-13-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P