Stuff to Blog About and More: Remembering 9/11

Patriot Day September 11, 2001, was a defining moment in American history. On September 11, 2001, our nation was attacked and many innocent people died. By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001, Congress has designated September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day" (Public Law 107-89). On Patriot Day, we remember the innocent victims, and pay tribute to the valiant firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, and ordinary citizens who risked their lives so others might live. President George W. Bush requests that flags be flown at half-staff and that we observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. ET to honor the innocent Americans and people from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. World Trade Center (WTC) Memorial Construction of the Memorial began in 2006, and is scheduled to open before the 10th anniversary on September 11, 2011. You can download a map (.PDF document) of the plans for the WTC and the surrounding streets. Please visit the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation's web site for additional information. Pentagon Memorial Shortly after the attack, the United States Congress authorized the Secretary of Defense to create a permanent memorial on the grounds of the Pentagon. Please visit the Pentagon Memorial web site for additional information. You may also access the September 11 Memorial and Navy Memorial virtual tour or the USA.gov 9/11 Commemorations and Information web page for additional information. Please note: To view and print .PDF documents, you must use the Adobe Reader software, which is available for download without charge.

FTC: Your Rights: Credit Reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Warning About "Imposter" Sites

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information on free annual credit reports, read Your Access to Free Credit Reports.