Patriot Day (September 11)

In the United States, Patriot Day occurs on September 11 of each year, designated in memory of those who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Although most people still refer to the day as "September 11" or "9/11". It is a discretionary day of remembrance.

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On this day, the President directs that the flag of the United States be flown at half-mast and displayed from individual American homes, at the White House, and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments, home and abroad. The President also asks Americans to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 A.M. (Eastern Daylight Time) marking the first plane crash on September 11.

The effort to make September 11 a national holiday has been rejected by many who view the effort as an act of jingoism and "handing the emotional victory over to the terrorists". Specifically, many object to the naming of the day as 'Patriot Day', as the day is intended as a memorial to the victims of a terrorist attack and arguably has nothing to do with patriotism or patriots.

This day of observance should not be confused with Patriot's Day, a holiday celebrated primarily in Massachusetts that commemorates the Battle of Lexington and Concord during the Revolutionary War.