NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Not only is Sept. 11 a day of remembrance, but it is also a nationally recognized day of service.
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All across the country, millions of volunteers dedicated their time Saturday on the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks to help others.
At the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City, about 800 volunteers came together to pack 200,000 meals for those in need.
The cast of Broadway's "Come from Away" kicked off the volunteer shift with a performance of "Prayer."
"If you can give back, it's like the best thing you can do and help any way you can and actually remember those people, the first responders that were actually there that gave their lives to save everybody else," said Chris, who was volunteering on his birthday.
"We need to remember that time is fast and you don't know what's going to happen to you," said 12-year-old volunteer Eli, who grew up only hearing about the 9/11 attacks. "It feels pretty great to help people during these times, during COVID too."
"It's such a wonderful way to do something good and positive on what was a really horrible day, and really the best of New Yorkers and the best of the world came out in response to that, and I think that's what we have here," said Linda, who marked her third year participating in the volunteer effort.
The organization 9/11 Day is behind the event at the Intrepid and in nine other cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Boston and Phoenix, where 11,000 volunteers are also packing meals for those in need.
Jay Winuk is the co-founder of 9/11 Day. He lost his firefighter brother, Glenn, following in the attacks.
"If he were here, Glenn would be first in line for this kind of observance. I'm quite confident of that. He really lived his life and died in service to other people," Winuk said.
Since 2009, Sept. 11 has officially been recognized in the U.S. as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only other day recognized by the country as an official day of service.
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