Patriot Day is an annual national observance in the United States on September 11 to commemorate the victims of the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. The core of this keyword term, "Patriot Day," functions as a proper noun. This observance specifically honors the nearly 3,000 individuals killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in the crashed United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. By a joint resolution approved in December 2001, Congress designated September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day," and it is officially recognized through an annual presidential proclamation.
The observance is marked by several key customs. The President directs that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff at all federal buildings and establishments, both domestically and abroad. Americans are encouraged to display the flag at their homes as well. A nationwide moment of silence is typically observed at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, corresponding to the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It is crucial to distinguish this day from Patriots' Day, a regional public holiday in Massachusetts and Maine in April that commemorates the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. Patriot Day is a solemn day of remembrance and is not a federal holiday, meaning businesses and government offices generally remain open.
The practical application and purpose of the day extend beyond remembrance. It was also designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, encouraging citizens to engage in community service and charitable activities as a tribute to the victims and first responders. This aspect aims to transform a day of tragedy into one of positive action, unity, and national resilience. The observance serves as a formal, recurring event for collective mourning, reflection on the nation's loss, and honoring the heroism of first responders and ordinary citizens who acted in the face of the attacks.
