September 11 is not a federal holiday in the United States. It is officially designated as Patriot Day, a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This status establishes it as a day of national observance to commemorate the lives lost and those injured in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, rather than a legal public holiday involving widespread closures.
The designation of Patriot Day was established by Public Law 107-89 on December 18, 2001. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009 later amended the law to also recognize the date as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. By presidential proclamation, Americans are called upon to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) and to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff at their homes, on the White House, and on all U.S. government buildings. The observance encourages volunteerism and charitable service as a tribute.
The practical implication of this designation is that government agencies, educational institutions, and private businesses are not required to close. The day's purpose is one of solemn commemoration and civic action, fundamentally differing from the celebratory or restful nature of federal holidays. Consequently, while it is a profoundly significant date in the national calendar, it functions as a day of remembrance, not a day off from work or school.
