Patriot Day is a National Day of Service and Remembrance in the United States, but it is not a federal holiday. While it is a nationwide observance, government agencies, schools, and most businesses do not close. It is officially recognized to honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 individuals who were killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The day was designated by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 18, 2001. The statute calls upon the President to issue a yearly proclamation for September 11 as Patriot Day. Per the resolution, the American flag should be flown at half-staff on all U.S. government buildings and establishments, both at home and abroad. The law also encourages a moment of silence to be observed at 8:46 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Therefore, its status as an observance rather than a legal public holiday means there are no mandated closures or paid time off. The day's purpose is to facilitate solemn reflection and encourage participation in community service and remembrance ceremonies. This national day of observance should not be confused with Patriots' Day, a separate civic holiday celebrated in April in Massachusetts and Maine, which commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
