Four U.S. planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001. The attack killed 3,000 and rallied Americans in ways we haven’t seen since.

But like Ted said: The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die.

Today marks the first anniversary of 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, a provision President Barack Obama ushered in when he signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law in April.

“As a 9/11 family member, I cannot think of a more inspiring, appropriate and constructive tribute to my late brother and all those who perished, were injured or rose in service—to rekindle at least one day each year the remarkable spirit of compassion and service that unified our country,” said Jay S. Winuk, co-founder and vice president of MyGoodDeed.org.

His younger brother, Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT, died when the World Trade Center collapsed.

The new legislation lets the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) make grants available to nonprofits and other organizations that want to organize 9/11 service and remembrance activities. The CNCS manages federal national service programs such as AmeriCorps, engaging about four million Americans in significant service each year.

Sen. Ted Kennedy, for whom the bill was named, died from brain cancer Aug. 25. Obama described Kennedy as “the greatest United States senator of our time.”

Said Kennedy in a letter he wrote before his death to send to Obama: I entered public life with a young president who inspired a generation and the world. It gives me great hope that as I leave, another young president inspires another generation and once more on America’s behalf inspires the entire world.