Patriot Day in United States

Patriot Day is an annual observance on September 11 to remember those who were injured or died during the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. Many Americans refer Patriot Day as 9/11 or September 11.

Patriot Day remembers those who lost their lives during the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

©iStockphoto.com/Terraxplorer

What do people do?

On the direction of the President, the flag of the United States of America should be displayed on the homes of Americans, the White House and all United States government buildings in the whole world. The flag should be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to those who died on September 11, 2001. Many people observe a moment of silence at 8:46 AM (Eastern Daylight Time). This marks the time that the first plane flew into the World Trade Center. Some communities, particularly in the areas directly affected by the attacks, hold special church services or prayer meetings. People who personally experienced the events in 2001 or lost loved ones in them, may lay flowers or visit memorials.

Public life

Patriot Day is not a federal holiday and schools and businesses do not close. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. Some people and organizations may take some time out to hold prayers for the victims of the attacks, but these do not usually affect public life for more than a few minutes.

Background

On September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked. The hijackers then deliberately flew three of the planes into two important buildings, the Pentagon in Washington DC and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The loss of life and damage that these hijackings caused form the biggest act of terrorism ever on United States soil. Nearly 3000 people died in the attacks and the economic impact was immense.

The attacks have greatly increased attention to national security in the United States. This has had huge implications for United States national and international politics. This is particularly true for the relationships between the United States and Islamic countries in the Middle East.

Symbols

The most potent symbol of the events that happened on September 11, 2001 are pictures and videos of planes flying into buildings, of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center engulfed in smoke and later collapsing and of people falling from buildings. Pictures taken of damaged buildings and relatives looking for loved ones in the days and weeks after the attacks are also often shown. The flag of the United States is often displayed around images of the events on September 11, 2001. This is to remind Americans that their country remained strong in the face of massive terrorist attacks.

Patriot Day should not be confused with Patriot’s Day, also known as Patriots Day, which commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, which were two of the earliest battles in the American Revolutionary War.

Patriot Day Observances

Related holiday

• Patriot's Day ―Monday, April 15, 2013

Other holidays in September 2013 in United States

• Labor Day ―Monday, September 2, 2013
• Rosh Hashana ―Thursday, September 5, 2013
• Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day ―Saturday, September 7, 2013
• International Literacy Day ―Sunday, September 8, 2013
• National Grandparents Day ―Sunday, September 8, 2013
• World Suicide Prevention Day ―Tuesday, September 10, 2013
• International Day for South-South Cooperation ―Thursday, September 12, 2013
• Friday the 13th ―Friday, September 13, 2013
• International Programmers' Day ―Friday, September 13, 2013
• Yom Kippur ―Saturday, September 14, 2013
• International Day of Democracy ―Sunday, September 15, 2013
• International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer ―Monday, September 16, 2013
• Constitution Day and Citizenship Day ―Tuesday, September 17, 2013
• First day of Sukkot ―Thursday, September 19, 2013
• International Talk Like a Pirate Day ―Thursday, September 19, 2013
• National POW/MIA Recognition Day ―Friday, September 20, 2013
• International Day of Peace ―Saturday, September 21, 2013
• Emancipation Day ―Sunday, September 22, 2013
• September equinox ―Sunday, September 22, 2013
• Last day of Sukkot ―Wednesday, September 25, 2013
• Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah ―Thursday, September 26, 2013
• World Maritime Day ―Thursday, September 26, 2013
• World Tourism Day ―Friday, September 27, 2013
• World Rabies Day ―Saturday, September 28, 2013
• World Heart Day ―Sunday, September 29, 2013
• Gold Star Mother's Day ―Sunday, September 29, 2013