National Park Service Welcomes Veterans From The Mission Continues to Ellis Island for 9/11 Day of Service

The Mission Continues Volunteers participate in 9/11 Day of Service

 

Ellis Island, NY/NJ – 120 volunteers came together on Ellis Island on September 7^th for a day of service in remembrance of 9/11. The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization that empowers veterans to continue their service and connects veterans with their skills to under-resourced communities, partnered with the National Park Service to plan and implement this day of service.

“Hosting these veterans, many of whom joined the military in response to the attacks of 9/11, working on Ellis Island with the World Trade Center site just across the harbor to the east and with the Statue of Liberty to the south was powerful and poignant,” said Superintendent John Piltzecker. “The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are enduring symbols of the American ideals of freedom, democracy, hope, and opportunity –ideals that these men and women elected to serve and defend. We are grateful for their service.”

The day began when the full-throttle roar of WW II vintage aircraft interrupted the early morning quiet of New York Harbor, as two propeller-driven fighters and a bomber circled the Statue of Liberty National Monument in what turned out to be a happy coincidence. The volunteers went straight to work painting, removing invasive weeds, mulching 50 trees and planting beds, clearing debris, building tables, and filling over 200 sandbags in just four hours.

“Veterans and supporters of The Mission Continues are extremely honored to be one of the very few volunteer groups allowed to serve on Ellis Island,” said Vu Nguyen, City Impact Manager at The Mission Continues. “It is a great honor and privilege for us to continue our service by helping to protect and preserve Ellis Island so that millions of visors every year can continue to enjoy its rich history and have access to one of the most iconic places in the world that symbolizes freedom and hope.”

“The Mission Continues has worked alongside the National Park Service to care for our national parks while also providing opportunities for military veterans to continue their service after taking off their military uniforms,” said Marvin Cadet, Northeast Project Manager. “Our partnership has allowed veterans to create a meaningful impact in the Dry Tortugas, Ellis Island, Mount Rainer National Park, and so many national parks in between. The Mission Continues is grateful to be partners of the National Park Service, and we look forward to making a positive impact in more national parks across the country for many years to come.”