Twenty-five years ago, the September 11 attacks changed our nation forever. We remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the courage and sacrifice of first responders, and the countless survivors, families and communities whose lives were forever changed.
In the hours and days that followed, Americans responded with an extraordinary outpouring of compassion and service, including thousands of people who lined up to donate blood. For many, rolling up their sleeves was one immediate and tangible way to help during a moment of tremendous uncertainty.
In the week immediately following 9/11, more than 3,300 people came forward to donate blood through Rhode Island Blood Center, an extraordinary outpouring of service that was nearly 80% above the number of donations RIBC sees in a typical week today.
For New York Blood Center Enterprises team members who were working on September 11, 2001, the memories of that day, and of the response that followed, remain vivid 25 years later.
In this video, longtime NYBCe team members reflect on their experiences during and after the attacks, and the remarkable spirit of compassion and community they witnessed firsthand.
A Lasting Tribute to Those Who Answered the Call
On September 10, 2002, New York Blood Center dedicated a memorial outside its Upper East Side donor center to honor the thousands of people who came forward to help. Three brass footprints embedded in the sidewalk accompany a plaque commemorating the volunteers who waited, both “in person and in spirit,” to give of themselves in response to the needs of 9/11 victims.
While the memorial stands in New York City, it represents a spirit of service that extended far beyond New York. In communities across the country, thousands of people stood in line to donate blood, volunteer and find ways to help in the days following the attacks.
The inscription asks that the footprints “forever honor” those volunteers while also serving as a symbol of the selfless donors who give blood throughout the year on behalf of their communities.
Twenty-five years later, the memorial remains a lasting reminder of how New Yorkers responded in the aftermath of 9/11, and of the difference people can make by simply showing up for one another.
Carrying the Spirit of Service Forward
In the 25 years since, Rhode Island Blood Center and communities across the region have continued to come together each September for remembrance blood drives, honoring September 11 as a Day of Service and carrying forward the extraordinary spirit of compassion that emerged in the wake of the attacks.
The impact of 9/11 also continues to be felt today. Many survivors and first responders are living with cancers and other serious illnesses linked to their exposure, and blood and platelet transfusions can be an important part of treatment for cancer patients.
The need for blood extends far beyond 9/11-related illnesses. Every day, patients rely on donated blood for cancer treatment, surgeries and transplants, serious injuries, childbirth and chronic blood disorders. Because blood cannot be manufactured and has a limited shelf life, hospitals depend on people donating regularly so blood is available whenever a patient needs it.
As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, we remember the lives lost, honor the courage and sacrifice of first responders, and stand with the survivors and families who continue to carry the impact of that day.
We also remember the extraordinary compassion that emerged in its aftermath: neighbors helping neighbors and communities coming together in service to one another. Twenty-five years later, we invite you to carry that spirit forward by giving blood and giving hope to someone in need.