The term "Patriot Day law" functions grammatically as a noun phrase, where "Patriot Day" acts as a proper noun modifying the noun "law." It refers specifically to United States Public Law 107-89, the joint resolution of Congress that designates September 11 of each year as a national day of observance in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Signed into law on December 18, 2001, the legislation directs the President of the United States to issue a proclamation annually, calling on the American people to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Key provisions of the law request that all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States, as well as interested organizations and individuals, display the U.S. flag at half-staff from sunrise to sunset. It also asks for the observance of a moment of silence to honor the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks.
This legislation's practical application is to provide a formal, unified, and enduring federal framework for national remembrance. It is important to distinguish this ceremonial law from the similarly named but functionally distinct USA PATRIOT Act, which dealt with law enforcement and intelligence-gathering powers. The "Patriot Day law" is exclusively concerned with the establishment and protocol of a national day of commemoration.
