In honor of the 13th anniversary of 9/11, the President has ordered that all flags be lowered today. Flags should remain lowered until sunset.

In a proclamation released yesterday, President Barack Obama said in part: 

“America will never forget the September tragedy that shook our Nation’s core 13 years ago. On a day that began like so many others, a clear blue sky was pierced by billowing black smoke as a wave of grief crashed over us. But in one of our darkest moments, we summoned strength and courage, and out of horrible devastation emerged the best of our humanity. On this solemn anniversary, we pause in remembrance, in reflection, and once again in unity.

“On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 men, women, and children — friends and neighbors, sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters — were taken from us with a heartbreaking swiftness and cruelty. As we come together once more to mourn their loss, we also recall how the worst terrorist attack in our history brought out the true character of the American people. Courageous firefighters rushed into an inferno, brave rescue workers charged up stairs, and coworkers carried others to safety. Americans in distant cities and local towns united in common purpose, demonstrating the spirit of our Nation; people drove across the country to volunteer, donors lined up to give blood, and organizations collected food and clothing. And in our Nation’s hour of need, millions of young Americans raised in a time of peace volunteered to don the uniforms of our country's military and defend our values around the world.

“As we remember all those we lost on that day and the Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the wars that followed, we must strive to carry forward their legacy. On this National Day of Service and Remembrance, we take up their unfinished work and pay tribute to their lives with service and charity. Through these acts and quiet gestures, we can honor their memory and reclaim our sense of togetherness. I encourage all Americans to visit www.Serve.gov or www.Servir.gov to learn more about service opportunities across our country.

“In the face of great terror, some turned to God and many found comfort in family and friends — but all Americans came together as one people united not only in our grief, but also in our determination to stand with one another and support the country we love. Today and all days, we remember the patriots who endure in the hearts of our Nation and their families who have known the awful depths of loss. In their spirit, let us resolve to move forward together and rededicate ourselves to the ideals that define our Union as we work to strengthen our communities and better our world.

“By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as Patriot Day, and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, the Congress has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

“Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2014, as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. I call upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and its Territories and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance. I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.”

There are 161 victims with ties to Connecticut who were killed on 9/11.  The State of Connecticut’s memorial to the victims is located on a peninsula at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, where people gathered on that day to observe lower Manhattan. The site was also used as a staging area for Connecticut’s relief efforts to New York City.

Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy also reminded state residents yesterday that US and state flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset today in remembrance of the nearly 3,000 men, women and children who list their lives in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

“With each year on the anniversary of September 11, we take time to remember the lives of those we lost, honor the men and women of our military who continue to fight for our freedom, and come together as a nation unified with an indomitable will and spirit that cannot be broken,” Gov Malloy said. “We pay tribute to those who performed extraordinary acts of heroism on that day, selflessly putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives of complete strangers, and we support the families of those whose lives were taken all too soon, including the many families from Connecticut who have been forever impacted by the tragedy. No amount of time will ever cause us to forget.”

Lt Governor Nancy Wyman said, “Today we come together as a nation to mourn the thousands who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks and the subsequent wars.  We also honor the many heroes borne of those catastrophic events on September 11, 2001.  From the youngest child of a military family bravely navigating life with a parent deployed, to the hundreds of thousands who continue to seek ways to be of service; well over a decade later we are a country unified by a call to honor those we lost, those who responded, and those who continue to fight for us.”

The governor has also issued a proclamation declaring Thursday as Honor Our Heroes and Remembrance Day in the State of Connecticut.

Connecticut’s memorial service for 9/11 was held last night at the memorial at Sherwood Island State Park. In an announcement yesterday, Gov Malloy reminded residents that every year since 2002, the State of Connecticut has held its official remembrance ceremony on the evening of September 10 because many victims of the terrorist attacks were from Connecticut.

“This allows their families the availability to attend both Connecticut's ceremony as well as the annual service at Ground Zero in New York City on the following morning,” the Office of Governor Malloy posted on its Facebook page.

The Office of Governor Malloy also posted a notice on its Facebook page this morning, asking residents to take a moment of silence at 8:46 am “to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11. We will be recognizing the moment with bell ringing ceremony in the State Capitol lobby. All are welcome to attend.”

Newtown resident and former American Stock Exchange floor broker Howard Lasher is hosting his annual memorial service this morning. 

The ceremony, at 68 Dodgingtown Road, will commemorate those who died in New York City and Washington, DC, September 11, 2001, along with the victims aboard United Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania.

A grove of maple trees painted by artist David Merrill to represent the American flag honors several of Mr Lasher’s friends and colleagues killed in the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center. Music will be performed, local elected officials have been invited to speak, and Mr Lasher will offer a keynote address during the 13th anniversary service.