Patriot Day is a United States national observance held annually on September 11 to commemorate the individuals killed and injured in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It serves as a day of remembrance for the 2,977 victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The day also honors the first responders, emergency personnel, and countless civilians who demonstrated extraordinary courage and heroism.
Established by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 18, 2001, the observance is formally known as "Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance." By presidential proclamation, all U.S. flags on government buildings, public institutions, and private residences are to be flown at half-staff. A nationwide moment of silence is typically observed at 8:46 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), marking the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. This observance is distinct from Patriots' Day, a regional holiday in Massachusetts and Maine commemorating the American Revolutionary War.
While not a federal holiday that closes businesses or schools, the day is marked by memorial ceremonies, prayer services, and other community events across the country. The addition of "National Day of Service and Remembrance" in 2009 encourages Americans to engage in charitable activities and community service as a positive and forward-looking tribute. This transforms the day from one of solely solemn remembrance into an occasion for civic engagement and reaffirmation of national unity in response to tragedy.
