Patriot Day
On Patriot Day, as we remember the events of September 11th, 2001, we also recognize the importance of coming together as a community to reflect, heal, and grow. Patriot Day is not just a day of remembrance; it’s a day to honor resilience and foster wellness across all dimensions of our lives.
In true Activity Alchemy fashion, we’ve come up with an activity based on each domain of wellness.
Emotional Domain - Patriot Day Ceremony
Our main suggestion for an activity for Patriot Day is a remembrance ceremony. You can write your own or use ours. Our ceremony lasts approximately 20 minutes, but if you would like to make it longer here are some additional elements we believe would
Raising or lowering of the Flag
Give everyone gets a candle to place on a memorial
And here is a list of songs and hymns that we believe would make good alternatives or additions to the ones in our ceremony.
Here is the list of names of the victims of the September 11th attacks. It is possible that those in attendance knew one or more of these people. If this is the case, you might want to add some time for them to share a story, have them read a poem or piece of scripture that is meaningful to them or include photos or mementos of the deceased on your Remembrance Table.
Spiritual Domain - Garden of Reflection
While our remembrance ceremony does include spiritual elements, they are all prayers. While spirituality has a religious meaning to many people, not everyone is religious or holds the same beliefs. To make sure we are accommodating everyone we wanted to create an activity that is representative of this domain without incorporating religion.
Planting a garden is a deeply spiritual activity because it connects us to the cycles of life, growth, and renewal. It allows us to engage directly with the natural world and to feel a connection with something other than ourselves. Gardening requires focus and attention to the present moment. As you tend to plants, you engage in a form of mindfulness, which can help quiet the mind and bring clarity. As a result, a garden can become a personal sanctuary, a sacred space where you can retreat to find peace, pray, or simply enjoy the beauty of creation. This space can be a physical representation of your spiritual journey.
We know that this project is a large undertaking that requires continued work and dedication from the community and is not feasible for everyone. Visiting or volunteering at a local garden can provide many of these benefits without the costs and land requirements of building your own garden. However, if you have the ability here are some suggestions for what to include in a Garden of Reflection:
1) Benches: Provide comfortable seating where visitors can sit and reflect. Choose natural materials like wood or stone to blend with the garden’s serene ambiance.
2) Fountain or Reflecting Pool: A gentle water feature like a small fountain or a reflecting pool adds a soothing sound and visual calm, symbolizing the flow of life and the power of reflection.
3) Symbolic Plants: Include trees known for their longevity, such as oaks or pines, representing strength and endurance. Incorporate flowers like lilies, which symbolize renewal, or lavender for its calming scent. Plant herbs like rosemary (for remembrance) and sage (for cleansing), which offer both symbolic and sensory benefits. Try to include plants native to the area to create a sense of belonging and connection to the local environment and plants that bloom at different times of the year to symbolize the cycles of life and change.
4) Lighting: Use solar-powered lanterns or low garden lights to create a warm, inviting atmosphere during evening hours, making the garden accessible for reflection at any time. You could even incorporate areas where visitors can light candles in memory or as a symbol of hope. Note: check the rules and regulations for your area regarding lighting candles. Many places have rules regarding naked flames near plants.
5) Spiritual Items: There are many different spiritual items that could be incorporated into the garden. For example, you could stack stones in small cairns as a symbol of balance, stability, and the passage of time. You could also hang prayer flags or wind chimes that gently move in the breeze or provide smooth stones that visitors can hold during reflection, then leave in a special place in the garden, creating a shared ritual of contemplation.
Whatever you choose to include in your garden, always keep in mind the group that is most likely to use it. Ensure that the paths are smooth so visitors aren’t likely to trip. Have an umbrella stand for those who wish to go out in rainy weather.
Social Domain - Potluck and Documentary Showing
Another meaningful way to recognize Patriot Day is by gathering to share stories and memories over a meal. This doesn’t have to be complicated—consider organizing a potluck where everyone brings a dish, or provide snacks and drinks for a more casual gathering. After the meal, you can watch a documentary or movie together and then discuss as a group.
Documentary/Movie Examples:
102 Minutes That Changed America (2008) – A real-time account of the events of September 11th, compiled from amateur and professional footage taken during the attacks.
9/11: Inside the President's War Room (2021) – A documentary that chronicles the 12 hours following the attacks from the perspective of the President and his closest advisers.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) – A fictional film based on a novel that tells the story of a young boy who loses his father in the attacks and goes on a journey to make sense of the tragedy.
After watching, encourage the participants to share their thoughts and feelings, fostering a supportive environment where everyone can reflect and connect.
Vocational Domain - Thank You Project for First Responders
Be sure to thank your local first responders for all that they do. Thank you cards and letters are a great way to show your appreciation. Points of Light have a great step by step for creating cards and thank you letters for first responders.
You can also put together care packages for your local first responders! We recommend home baked cookies, ground coffee or bags of tea, foam rollers to relieve muscle aches, sun screen, and portable chargers for phones or other small electronic devices. We also encourage you to reach out and ask the first responders what they need most. Their ideas will be better than ours.
Physical Domain - Sponsored Walk
Host a sponsored walk with proceeds going to your local first responders or emergency funds for disaster relief organizations. This activity not only promotes physical wellness but also supports the community in a tangible way.
Beneficiary Examples:
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: Provides support to the families of firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
First Responders Children's Foundation: Supports children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.
American Red Cross: Provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education.
Intellectual Domain- Virtual Museum Visit
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum Website has a free 9/11 Anniversary Digital Learning Experience. All you need to do is register. Per the website “The program includes a 30-minute film, available on demand, highlighting first-person accounts of the attacks and their aftermath and a live chat with Museum staff throughout the day. The film will be available beginning Wednesday, September 11.”
We hope that this list helps you plan a respectful, dignified, and memorable Patriot Day program. If you end up incorporating one of these into your plan for the day please tell us how it went in the comments below!
