Friday, September 9, 2011

Sept. 11 is Grandparents Day and Patriot Day

On Sept.11 fly flags at half-staff
         




   Wondering what to do this Sept. 11?



   Why not spend it visiting your grandparents, or an elder person who may appreciate having company. Here are some ideas for things to do this Sept.11, 2011 along with a reprint of some great information from The Joe Foss Institute.

Visit your grandparents, or take your kids to visit their grandparents. Take them out to lunch, then attend a memorial or lay flowers for a Veteran for Patriot Day. Don't forget to fly your flag at half staff.

Here's a reprint from The Joe Foss Institute:

Patriot Day

Patriot Day takes place on September 11th each year in order to remember those killed in the attacks on the US, by a group of terrorists who were able to hijack and take control of four commercial airliners in 2001. Two of those planes struck the World Trade Center and one struck the Pentagon.


The fourth plane was intended to collide with either the White House or the Capitol Building; however, a group of heroic passengers on that flight were able to overpower the hijackers and the plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, PA. Sadly, there were no survivors from any of the four planes and a total of approximately 3,000 lives were lost that day.


On October 25th, 2001, Congress voted unanimously for President George Bush to designate September 11th as Patriot Day as a result of the immense sadness this day carries with it. On September 4th, 2002, President Bush officially proclaimed September 11th Patriot Day.


As a discretionary holiday, it is nationally accepted that all American flags should be flown at half-staff; especially the flags that decorate the White House and US government buildings both home and abroad. The President also requested that a moment of silence be observed on this day at 8:46am, the time at which the first plane hit the North tower of the World Trade Center.

Patriot Day Activities

To help foster an appreciation for the sacrifices of Americans who bravely lost their lives on September 11th, here are a few suggestions for Patriot Day school activities.

  • Sing The National Anthem: There is no greater way to show your patriotism than to sing the national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner. Teach your students the words to the Star Spangled Banner and then have them sing it prior to beginning any of the other activities listed here, much like what is done at a sporting event. Click here to see why the National Anthem is Important.
  • Create Cards For Local Firefighters And Policemen: Unless you reside in New York or Washington D.C., the members of your local firefighting and/or police departments were not directly involved with the September 11th attacks. However, because all firefighters and policemen refer to each other as brethren, sharing your gratitude for the services your local departments have rendered will still make a difference to the recipients.
  • Fly Your Flag At Half-Staff – Allow your children or students to help you fly the flag and explain to them that the purpose of flying your flag at half-staff is to illustrate respect and/or mourning.
  • Observe A Moment Of Silence – This does not necessarily have to take place at the aforementioned 8:46am, but it would show students how a tragic day in American history is typically observed.
  • September 11th Lesson Plans – Although there are few lesson plans that encompass this dismal day, there are things that children can do that may increase their capacity of understanding of what happened in 2001. A few suggestions include Q & A, giving a brief lecture on the events of that day, and having the students write a letter to a student 50 years in the future explaining what they have learned about the holiday. Click here to see more Patriotic school activities.

Patriot Day Activities Beyond The Classroom

Another Patriot Day school activity that you can partake in is to have your children actual speak to a veteran of a US war. You can do this through The Joe Foss Intstitute's VIP (Veterans Inspiring Patriotism) Program.




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