Yes, Patriot Day is directly based on true historical events. It is the official day of remembrance in the United States for the nearly 3,000 people killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The observance was established by law to honor the victims, their families, and the first responders who answered the call.
The specific events occurred on September 11, 2001, when 19 militants associated with the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes. The hijackers intentionally crashed two planes into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and a third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers and crew resisted the hijackers, preventing it from reaching its target in Washington, D.C.
In response to this national tragedy, U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law a resolution on December 18, 2001, designating September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day." The day serves as a formal, non-holiday observance for national reflection, marked by a presidential proclamation, the flying of the U.S. flag at half-staff, and a nationwide moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. (EDT)the time the first plane struck the World Trade Center.
