Volunteers planting a rain garden.

Natural Area Preservation (NAP) will be hosting volunteer events to honor the National Day of Service and Remembrance on Sept. 11, 2011. This year's 10th anniversary presents a unique opportunity to come together as a nation to pay tribute to those who gave their service during and after 9/11, by giving one's own service to their community.

The stewardship workdays are taking place between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 11 and will be held at four local Ann Arbor parks and nature areas.

According to 911day.org , the National Day of Service and Remembrance was created as a way to "..create a permanent and positive legacy that rekindles the spirit of unity that existed immediately after 9/11, and that honors the 9/11 victims, heroes, and all those who rose in service in response to the terrorist attacks that changed our nation."

Natural Area Preservation plans to include a moment of silence before each of our volunteer events so that participants may reflect on the significance of the day and share their own reasons for volunteering at this event.

"We really wanted to mark the 10th anniversary of this day by establishing multiple volunteer events around the Ann Arbor area so that citizens had various opportunities to get involved, give back, and reflect on this day in a personal way," said Christine Chessler the park stewardship coordinator at NAP.

www.911day.org

Since many sites have multiple entrances, NAP has assigned one specific volunteer meeting location to each workday site. Visit www.a2gov.org/NAP for meeting locations and other workday details.

Events for The National Day of Service and Remembrance will be happening across the country. For more information on 9/11 Day and to learn more about additional volunteer opportunities, visit http://911day.org

Christine Chessler is Park Stewardship Coordinator for Natural Area Preservation, with the City of Ann Arbor. She can be reached at nap@a2gov.org . Visit www.a2gov.org/NAP for more information about native plants, city natural areas, and volunteering in city parks.