Patriot Day is a national day of remembrance in the United States observed annually on September 11. It commemorates the 2,977 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Formally established by a presidential proclamation in 2002, it is a discretionary day of observance rather than a federal holiday, meaning government offices and most businesses remain open. The day is marked by solemn ceremonies at the sites of the attacks: the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The legal basis for the observance is Public Law 107-89, a joint resolution of Congress approved in December 2001, which designated September 11 of each year as Patriot Day. By presidential proclamation, Americans are called to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the moment the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The proclamation also directs that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff at all U.S. government buildings, establishments, and private homes. In 2009, Congress also designated this date as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, encouraging volunteerism and charitable activities as a tribute to the victims and first responders.
This day of remembrance serves as a formal, nationwide occasion for reflection on the events of 9/11, honoring the victims, their families, and the heroes who responded to the tragedy. It is important to distinguish this observance from Patriots' Day, a regional public holiday in April that commemorates the battles of the American Revolutionary War. While both honor American history, Patriot Day is a modern, solemn memorial focused on a specific act of terrorism and its aftermath, whereas Patriots' Day is a celebratory historical holiday.
