Patriot Day is observed annually in the United States on September 11. This specific date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. It is a national day of remembrance for the 2,977 people killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in the crashed United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The observance was established by Presidential Proclamation 7463 on September 4, 2002, and was made official by U.S. Public Law 107-89, which was signed into law on December 18, 2001. It is important to distinguish Patriot Day from Patriots' Day, a different holiday celebrated on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine to mark the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. On Patriot Day, the President directs that the American flag be flown at half-staff at all U.S. government buildings and establishments. Many communities also observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. (EDT), the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
While it is a national observance, Patriot Day is not a federal holiday, meaning schools and businesses generally do not close. In 2009, Congress designated September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, encouraging Americans to participate in community service and charitable acts as a tribute. The fixed date provides a consistent and solemn occasion for the nation to reflect on the events of that day and honor the memory of the victims.
