9/11 is a National Day of Service and Remembrance

9/11 is a National Day of Service and Remembrance

  • By Alejandro Mayorkas
  • Sep 08, 2021

Later this week, our Nation will observe the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. We will set aside time on that solemn day to honor those who lost their lives. We will pay special tribute to the many heroes who, in the service of others and our country, selflessly showed us the best of who we are.

You show us that too, through your work for our country every single day.

On the solemn day of Sept. 11 – a day declared as our National Day of Service and Remembrance – I ask that you lead others in your community to volunteer their time in service of others. You can learn of volunteer opportunities in your community from AmeriCorps.   If you want to support the effort to resettle Afghan nationals as part of Operation Allies Welcome, please consider signing up for the DHS Volunteer Force.

September is also National Preparedness Month and it is fitting that this year's theme is Prepare to Protect. While we help families, households, and businesses prepare for emergencies and disasters, we also offer a unique opportunity for colleagues to volunteer to deploy across the country and around the world to assist people in need. In whatever way you choose to contribute – whether by volunteering, donating to a charitable cause, or other act of giving – you will make a difference.

Through your service, you keep the American public safe and you make our country stronger. Thank you for everything you do.

About the Author

Alejandro Mayorkas is the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities