As a proper noun, Patriot Day is the official name of the annual observance in the United States held on September 11 to commemorate the 2,977 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It serves as a national day of remembrance for the victims of the attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Virginia, and on United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The observance was established by a proclamation from President George W. Bush in December 2001 and signed into law in 2002. On this day, the President directs that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff on all government buildings and establishments. A nationwide moment of silence is also observed, typically at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, marking the moment the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. This observance is distinct from Patriots' Day, a regional holiday in some New England states that commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
In 2009, the day was also designated as the National Day of Service and Remembrance. This encourages Americans to engage in charitable acts and community service as a positive tribute to the victims, survivors, and first responders of the 9/11 attacks. While it is a national observance, it is not a federal holiday; therefore, schools and businesses typically remain open. Its purpose is to foster a day of solemn reflection on the events of 9/11 and to honor the spirit of unity and service that emerged in the nation's response.
