Patriot Day is a United States national day of observance held annually on September 11 to remember and honor the nearly 3,000 individuals who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Officially designated by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, it is a day for national mourning and reflection.
On this day, the President of the United States directs that the American flag be flown at half-staff at all federal buildings, installations, and public grounds. A nationwide moment of silence is typically observed at 8:46 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), marking the time the first plane struck the World Trade Center. The day was also designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, encouraging Americans to engage in acts of charity and community service as a tribute to the victims, survivors, and first responders.
It is important to distinguish this observance from Patriots' Day, a regional public holiday in several states, primarily Massachusetts and Maine, which commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord in the American Revolutionary War. While both names are similar, Patriot Day specifically serves as the solemn federal remembrance of the 2001 attacks, focusing on national unity, service, and memory.
