In the United States, the national day of observance known as Patriot Day occurs annually on September 11. This day is specifically designated to remember and honor the nearly 3,000 individuals who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It is a day for solemn commemoration and reflection.
Established by presidential proclamation and later codified into law (36 U.S.C. 144), Patriot Day is not a federal public holiday, meaning schools and businesses generally remain open. Common observances include a presidential proclamation each year calling on all U.S. citizens to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. A nationwide moment of silence is often held at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The flag of the United States is also flown at half-staff at all homes, the White House, and all U.S. government buildings and establishments both at home and abroad.
It is crucial to distinguish this national observance from Patriots' Day, a regional public holiday celebrated on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin. Patriots' Day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War in 1775. Therefore, while both days honor American historical events, Patriot Day on September 11 is a national day of remembrance for a 21st-century tragedy, whereas the springtime Patriots' Day is a state-level holiday celebrating the nation's founding.
