Patriot Day, observed annually on September 11, is not a federal holiday in the United States. It is officially designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This status distinguishes it as a day of national observance and commemoration rather than a legal public holiday that mandates closures.
A federal holiday is one of the eleven days designated by the U.S. Congress in Title 5 of the United States Code. On these days, non-essential federal government offices are closed, and federal employees are paid for the day off. Patriot Day was established by a presidential proclamation and later by law (Public Law 107-89) as a day for the nation to remember and honor the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The law specifically calls for the President to issue a proclamation each year, requesting that flags be flown at half-staff and that a moment of silence be observed at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
The practical implication of this distinction is that federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as schools and private businesses, are not required to close on Patriot Day. Employees do not receive a paid day off from work. Instead, the day is marked by memorial ceremonies, volunteer activities, and other tributes intended to honor the victims, their families, and the first responders who acted during the attacks.
