She appreciated the efforts of the US consulate staff for not only teaching the girls how to prepare the land and plant the seeds, but also how to care for them as they grow.

Earlier this year, US First Lady Michelle Obama planted a garden at the White House to help teach Americans the value of home-grown foods which are both nutritious and less polluting than vegetables that are trucked to city markets.

The programme in Mumbai follows a proclamation by President B. Obama Thursday: 'I call upon all Americans to join in service and honor the lives we lost, the heroes who responded in our hour of need and the brave men and women in uniform who continue to protect our country at home and abroad.'

In April this year, the Congress approved a law that requested the observance of Sep 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.