Perdue, Bev. Proclamation, 2012-09-06, September 11th Day Of Service And Remembrance

              BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
GOVERNOR
SEPTEMBER 11th DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE
2012
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, on September II , 200 I , terrorists attacked the United States, leading to the tragic death of thousands of innocent United States citizens,
as well as citizens from more than 90 other countries and territories; and
WHEREAS, in response to the attacks in New York City, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, firefighters, police officers, emergency
medical technicians, physicians, nurses, military personnel, and other first responders, immediately, and without concern for their own well-being, rose to
service, in a heroic attempt to protect the lives of those still at risk, consequently saving thousands of men and women; and
WHEREAS, in the days, weeks and months following the attacks, thousands of people in the United States and other nations spontaneously
volunteered to help support the rescue and recovery efforts, braving both physical and emotional hardship; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of brave men and women continue to serve every day, having answered the call to duty as members of our
nation ' s armed forces, with thousands having given their lives or been injured to defend our nation ' s security and to prevent future terrorist attacks; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina is home to several important milit,ary bases with hundreds of thousands of active duty m~n and women and their families
in all branches of the service; and
WHEREAS. North Carolina has been called the most military-friendly state in the nation, and its citizens continue to support our brave men and
women in uniform and the veterans that came before them; and
WHEREAS, the entire nation witnessed and shared in the tragedy of9/11 and, in the immediate aftermath, became unified in a remarkable spirit of
service and. compassion that inspired and helped heal the nation; and
WHEREAS, in the years immediately following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics documented a marked increase in volunteerism
among citizens in the United States; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of citizens throughout the United States, as well as others who live in 170 different countries, already observe the
anniversary of the 9/ 11 attacks each year by personally engaging in service, good deeds, arid other charitable acts; and
WHEREAS, families of9/ ll victims, survivors, first responders, rescue and recovery workers, and volunteers called for Congress to pass legislation
to formally authorize the establishment of September II as an annually recognized "National Day of Service and Remembrimce", and for the President of
the United States to proclaim the day as such; and
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2009, Congress passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which included for the first time the authorization
and Federal recognition of September II as a "National Day of Service and Remembrance," a bill signed into law on April 21 , 2009, by President Barack
Obama; and Congresswoman Doris Matsui introduced a House Resolution declaring September II, 2009, a "National Day of Service and Remembrance";
and
WHEREAS, the State ofNorth Carolina recognizes the courage and sacrifices of veterans and their families since September II , 2001. and joins our
nation in acknowledging this year' s theme: Veterans and Military Families Appreciation; and
WHEREAS, the State ofNorth Carolina is home to over 792,000 veterans and 147.000 guard and reserve members in active service; and
WHEREAS, 35% of the population is either current mi litary, former mil itary or veteran, or spouse, parent or dependent of a member or former
member of the armed forces; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages citizsns to volunteer or to send a personalized thank you in recognition of veterans, as well as
current service men and women and their families during the 2012 September I I th National Day of Service and Remembrance; '
NOW, THE~FORE, I, BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE, Governor of the State ofNorth Carolina, do hereby proclaim "SEPTEMBER lith DAY OF
SERVICE AND CE" in North Carolina, and urge all citizens to commit to community service on this day and an ongoing basis.
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State ofNorth Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this sixth
and twelve, and of the In-dependence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-