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"SERVE, HONOR, REMEMBER:" MICHIGAN'S TRIBUTE TO 9/11
As the nation mourned the 11th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, hundreds of thousands of American's joined together for the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. First launched in 2002 by 9/11 family members and support groups, the day became officially recognized as the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance following the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009. Today, U.S. citizens use the national day of service to remember and pay tribute to the victims of 9/11, honor those that rose in service in response to the attacks, and remind people of the importance of working more closely together to improve our world.
In the Great Lakes state, the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), Michigan Nonprofit Association, Volunteer Centers of Michigan, Michigan Campus Compact, and The LEAGUE Michigan encouraged citizens throughout Michigan to mark the day in service and remembrance. From a moment of silence to a city-wide service project, nearly 1,300 Michigan residents engaged in 9/11 activities, as communities came together once again on this historic day. Read on to learn more about the nearly 2,500 hours of service that were given in Michigan as our state served, honored, and remembered 9/11.
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Flying the Flag of Freedom
Michigan's AmeriCorps members in the Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps (MMCCC) AmeriCorps program marked the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance in a variety of ways. For one member serving with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County, the historic day was spent serving, honoring, and remembering members of the U.S. Armed Forces with a flag raising ceremony. "The United States Flag is a symbol of freedom, a symbol of acknowledgement to those who have sacrificed their lives for that freedom, and a symbol of respect and love for our country," explained Jackson County MMCCC member Josh Latocki. For this reason, Josh and his community partners decided to build and erect a flag memorial outside the United Way of Jackson County building. In preparation for the September 11 flag raising ceremony, Josh engaged 28 volunteers to assist with the building and landscape clean-up, electrical work, and installation of the flag pole and bracket. On September 11, the flag was officially raised for the first time at a brief memorial service. The event was attended by more than 40 community members, including 10 veterans and current military family members, who listened as the flag was dedicated to the military men and women who are or have served our country. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County flag raising ceremony service project was supported in part with a mini-grant provided by the MCSC and their national day of service partners. Back to top |
 Volunteering as a Community in Kalamazoo
As part of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, Volunteer Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo area volunteer center, hosted two separate service days. In total, the two days drew nearly 300 community members who gave a collective 825 service hours to better the Kalamazoo area.
The Kalamazoo Family Day of Service was held on September 11. More than 225 local families attended the event to help create care packages for American veterans, make fleece blankets for children in crisis situations, and assist with projects for local animal shelters. This unique service event was held downtown at the Radisson hotel and various local nonprofits and businesses helped to host the event by providing volunteer projects stations, food, and more.
Later that week on September 15, Volunteer Kalamazoo hosted their second service day, the Community Day of Service. During this service day, 50 volunteers were engaged in six different volunteer projects throughout Kalamazoo. These service projects focused on improving local neighborhood safety and included sites at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, the Battle Creek VA Medical Center, and the Tabitha Urban Gardens.
As a result of the Kalamazoo service projects, community members accomplished a number of projects, including the compilation of 50 appreciation/recruitment bags for foster parents, the creation of 55 veteran thank-you cards, and the construction of five fleece blankets. To read more about the good deeds completed in Kalamazoo, visit their Family Day of Service blog.
Volunteer Kalamazoo is one of seven Volunteer MICHIGAN grantees supported by the MCSC through a Volunteer Generation Fund grant. This grant supports volunteer centers seeking to increase the number of volunteers engaged in their community.
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Serving Those Who Served
To thank our nation's heroes for their service and sacrifice, volunteers in the Battle Creek area Senior Corps programs commemorated the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance by creating a special treat for former service men and women. In addition to delivering "Snack Pack Care Packages" to the veterans at the Battle Creek Veterans Medical Center on September 11, Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) members also hosted an ice cream social for 80 veterans at the hospital.
Leading up to September 11, 150 Senior Corps national service members spent time collecting and purchasing personal care and snack items. On the day of the event, more than 10 volunteers came together to assemble the care packages which were then delivered to the hospital. As they engaged veterans in both the snack pack delivery and ice cream social, the volunteers were greeted with words of appreciation and gratitude from the former service men and women who were honored by the thoughtful tribute.
The Senior Corps service project was supported in part by a mini-grant provided by the MCSC and their national days of service partners. Back to top |
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Are you ready to answer the call to serve? Participate in the next national day of service, Make a Difference Day, on October 27. To explore volunteer positions that fit your skills and interest, search our online volunteer portal.
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About the MCSC
The Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2011-2012, the MCSC is granting nearly $8 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 24 AmeriCorps programs and seven Volunteer Michigan grantees. The Governor's Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC.
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