Service and patriotism are nonpartisan
Americans gather today to remember. It will take the form of a moment of silence or public remembrance in Elgin, Des Plaines, Glen Ellyn, Elburn and many other communities.
Some will listen to patriotic music at a Rolling Meadows church. In Wauconda, the U.S. Navy honor/color guard will appear at the sophomore football game.
And, for the seventh year, businesses and organizations in DuPage County are marking the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with a Day of Giving, a collection of volunteer efforts in honor of those who lost their lives in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
DuPage County's project, co-sponsored by the Daily Herald, is just the kind of thing intended by the National Day of Service and Remembrance established this year thanks to the efforts of the not-for-profit MyGoodDeed, made up of victims' families.
In addition to the ceremonies memorializing those who died, we are now challenged to do one good thing on Sept. 11 in honor of those who died in the attacks. The idea is to strengthen our nation by strengthening communities.
"There was a spirit of volunteerism that came out of Sept. 11," Kathy Blair, Giving DuPage's executive director, told Daily Herald staff writer Jake Griffin.
It's too late, of course, for municipalities to initiate a complex effort mobilizing thousands of volunteers this year, like DuPage County has done.
We urge other communities to look at DuPage's example for future years.
However, there is always opportunity to give. Anyone could take a lunchtime stroll today to pick up garbage in downtown streets or offer to read to a classroom at a local school. Maybe there's something you've been meaning to volunteer for - this is the day to pick up the phone. Or visit serve.gov for ideas.
Unfortunately, even this National Day of Service, declared by President Obama and established with bipartisan support, can't escape the president's critics.
Some believe it promotes projects that support Democratic causes. One claims "nihilistic liberals are planning to drain 9/11 of all meaning." Radio host Laura Inraham says, "It blurs the importance of what happened on that day."
Sorry, conspiracy theorists. From where we're standing, in the heart of suburban communities among real people with real challenges, we just don't see it. Building social bonds and strong communities is precisely how we, as individuals, can help protect our democracy and stand up to its foes.
An e-mail that has been circulating calls for people to fly the flag instead of observing the Day of Service. We don't see this as an either/or situation. Patriotism is neither conservative nor liberal. The same is true for community service. There's room for both, regardless of political persuasion.
That's especially true on this day, when all Americans are remembering.