Patriot Day is the official name of the annual observance held in the United States on September 11. It serves as a day of remembrance for the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The name is formally established by U.S. law and does not have a common alternative title.
A primary source of confusion regarding its name arises from the similarity to "Patriots' Day," but the two are distinct observances. Patriot Day, on September 11, is a national day of Service and Remembrance. By law, the American flag is flown at half-staff, and the nation is asked to observe a moment of silence. In contrast, Patriots' Day is a regional public holiday celebrated on the third Monday of April in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin. It commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, which marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
Therefore, the correct and official term for the September 11 commemoration is "Patriot Day." Using this specific name is essential for clarity and to accurately distinguish this solemn day of remembrance from the celebratory April holiday, Patriots' Day. While the names are phonetically similar, they refer to two separate and significant events in American history.
