The keyword "Patriot Day" functions as a proper noun. It is the specific name of an annual day of observance in the United States held on September 11. The day was established to commemorate the 2,977 individuals who were killed during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in a plane crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Officially designated by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law in 2001, Patriot Day is marked by several key observances. The President of the United States directs that the American flag be flown at half-staff at all homes, U.S. government buildings, and establishments both domestically and abroad. A national moment of silence is also observed at 8:46 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The day's official title was expanded in 2009 to "Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance" to encourage community service as a tribute.
The significance of Patriot Day lies in its function as a solemn day of national reflection rather than a federal holiday; schools and businesses typically remain open. The addition of the "National Day of Service and Remembrance" component recontextualizes the commemoration, encouraging citizens to engage in charitable work and volunteerism. This transforms the day from one of passive mourning into an opportunity for active, positive tribute, honoring the victims and first responders by fostering national unity and civic engagement.
