Patriot Day is an annual observance in the United States on September 11 to commemorate the 2,977 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It is a day dedicated to remembering the victims, survivors, and first responders of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Officially designated by a presidential proclamation in 2002 and later enacted into law, the observance is marked by specific national customs. The President of the United States directs that the American flag be flown at half-staff on all U.S. government buildings and establishments, both at home and abroad. A nationwide moment of silence is also observed, traditionally at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the moment the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It is important to distinguish this observance from Patriots' Day, a regional holiday in April that commemorates the battles of the American Revolutionary War.
The day functions as a national occasion for solemn reflection and remembrance. In 2009, federal law also designated it as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, encouraging Americans to engage in charitable service and community activities as a positive tribute. This dual purpose serves not only to honor the memory of those who were lost but also to channel the spirit of unity and compassion that emerged in the wake of the tragedy into constructive action, reinforcing national resilience and civic engagement.
