West Easton, its organizations, residents, and those of communities throughout the country flew flags at half-staff today in honor of those who lost their lives on that fateful day 13 years ago. All were innocent victims of a terrorist attack that had us shocked as events unfolded.
As with those who remember exactly where they were when President Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas on November 22, 1963, a new generation now remembers where they were when the events of September 11, 2001 unfolded and the Twin Towers fell.
As I drove through West Easton and the local area today I saw that many homes were displaying flags and it was reassuring to know that patriotism and remembrance was still present.
In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, President George W. Bush, proclaimed Friday September 14, 2001, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.
A bill to make September 11th a national day of mourning was introduced in the U.S. House on October 25, 2001, by Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) with 22 co-sponsors, among them eleven Democrats and eleven Republicans. The bill requested that the President designate September 11 of each year as Patriot Day. Joint Resolution 71 passed the House by a vote of 407–0, with 25 members not voting. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on November 30. President Bush signed the resolution into law on December 18 as Pub.L. 107–89. On September 4, 2002, Bush used the authority of the resolution to proclaim September 11, 2002, as the first Patriot Day.
Original co-sponsors in the House were:
- Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
- Rick Boucher (D-VA)
- Eliot L. Engel (D-NY)
- Phil English (R-PA)
- Randy Forbes (R-VA)
- Benjamin A. Gilman (R-NY)
- Felix Grucci, Jr. (R-NY)
- Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
- Steve Israel (D-NY)
- Peter T. King (R-NY)
- Ray LaHood (R-IL)
- Nita Lowey (D-NY)
- Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY)
- Michael R. McNulty (D-NY)
- Jim Moran (D-VA)
- Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
- John E. Peterson (R-PA)
- Thomas M. Reynolds (R-NY)
- Ed Schrock (R-VA)
- Don Sherwood (R-PA)
- Ed Towns (D-NY)
- James T. Walsh (R-NY)
In observance of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, each year since 2009 President Barack Obama has (by presidential proclamation) designated September 11 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Observance
The flag of the United States is flown at half-staff at the White House and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments throughout the world; flags are also encouraged to be displayed on individual American homes. Additionally, a moment of silence is observed to correspond with the attacks, beginning at 8:46 AM (Eastern Daylight Time), the time the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Patriot Day is not a federal holiday; schools and businesses remain open in observance of the occasion, although memorial ceremonies for the victims are often held. Volunteer and service opportunities are coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
The next observance, when flags will be flown at half-staff and citizens are encouraged to display the American flag will be December 7th, in observance of Pearl Harbor Day, when the Imperial Navy of Japan attacked American forces based in and around Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on that day in 1941.
Should you wish to fly a flag, or install a flag pole for upcoming events, you can by an inexpensive flag locally at most home improvement stores, or online. Residential size flag poles can be ordered online. Links are provided below.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
