The term "Patriot Day" is a proper noun that designates the annual American observance held on September 11. It serves as the official day to remember and mourn the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Formally established by law in 2002, this day is also known as the National Day of Service and Remembrance, encouraging acts of charity and volunteerism.
On this day, the President of the United States directs that the American flag be flown at half-staff at all U.S. government buildings, facilities, and homes as a mark of respect. A nationwide moment of silence is often observed at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, corresponding to the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It is important to distinguish this observance from Patriots' Day, a state holiday in Massachusetts and Maine celebrated in April to commemorate the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.
The primary significance of the day is to provide a formal, unified occasion for national mourning, reflection, and remembrance. It honors not only the victims who perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, but also the first responders who demonstrated extraordinary bravery. By framing it as a day of service, it aims to foster a spirit of national unity and resilience, transforming the anniversary of a national tragedy into a day for positive community action.
