[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
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

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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.
BARACK OBAMA