. My brave brother , Glenn J. Winuk , was a partner at a large law firm , Holland & Knight , located two blocks from the World Trade Center . For almost 20 years Glenn was also a volunteer firefighter and an emergency medical technician . When the Towers were hit , Glenn borrowed rescue equipment and ran from safety toward the South Tower to participate in the rescue effort . He died when the South Tower collapsed . Soon after the attacks , I co-founded , with my friend David Paine and other 9/11 family members and friends , a grassroots initiative called MyGoodDeed . Our goal ? To establish the anniversary of September 11 , 2001 as an annually recognized national day of service . Our widely shared view was that there would be no better way to pay tribute to those thousands lost and those millions who rose in spontaneous , compassionate and effective service to help rebuild our spirit and our nation in the aftermath of the attacks . Supported by all the leading 9/11 family , survivor and volunteer organizations , the initiative has since attracted the attention and participation of millions of people
Editor 's note : Jay S. Winuk , co-founder of MyGoodDeed , is the brother of Glenn J. Winuk , an attorney and volunteer firefighter and EMT who died in the line of duty when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11 , 2001 . This week Glenn was posthumously honored with the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor from the United States of America . Jay Winuk says September 11 is best observed as a day of service to others . NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The upcoming eighth anniversary of the attacks of September 11 raises a compelling question for millions of Americans : How should we best observe this uniquely tragic day in our nation 's history ? Surely , it should not be a holiday . This is no time for days off from work and three-day weekends to enjoy barbeques and white sales . No , September 11 is a day for reflection , and its historical and emotional significance should not lessen with time or be diminished in any way . It is a day to focus on the substantial lessons learned . I 'm a 9/11 family member