Patriot Day

For the anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution and the holiday celebrated in Massachusetts, Maine, and other states, see Patriots' Day. For the Quebec holiday, see National Patriots' Day.

In the United States, Patriot Day occurs on September 11 of each year in memory of the people killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Patriot Day
The Tribute in Light from Jersey City in 2020, on the evening of the 19th anniversary of 9/11. It consists of a blue pair of composite light columns that shine from near the World Trade Center site and into the night sky over Lower Manhattan.
Observed by	United States
Type	Patriotic
Date	September 11
Next time	September 11, 2024 (2024-09-11)
Frequency	Annual

President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney lead a moment of silence on the South Lawn on September 11, 2004, with White House staff and families of victims of 9/11.

History

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, carried out by terrorists from Al-Qaeda, President George W. Bush proclaimed Friday, September 14, 2001 as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.^[1]

A bill to make September 11 a national day of mourning was introduced in the U.S. House on October 25, 2001, by Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) with 22 co-sponsors. The result was the resolution to proclaim September 11, 2002, as the first Patriot Day.

Original co-sponsors in the House were:^[2]

• Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
• Rick Boucher (D-VA)
• Eliot Engel (D-NY)
• Phil English (R-PA)
• Randy Forbes (R-VA)
• Benjamin Gilman (R-NY)
• Felix Grucci (R-NY)
• Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
• Steve Israel (D-NY)
• Peter T. King (R-NY)
• Ray LaHood (R-IL)
• Nita Lowey (D-NY)
• Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
• Michael R. McNulty (D-NY)
• Jim Moran (D-VA)
• Jerry Nadler (D-NY)
• John E. Peterson (R-PA)
• Thomas M. Reynolds (R-NY)
• Ed Schrock (R-VA)
• Don Sherwood (R-PA)
• Ed Towns (D-NY)
• James T. Walsh (R-NY)

From 2009 to 2016, President Barack Obama proclaimed September 11 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, in observance of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]} In 2017, President Donald Trump proclaimed September 8–10 as National Days of Prayer and Remembrance,^[9][10][11] and proclaimed September 11 as Patriot Day.^{[12][13][14][15]} President Trump also did so in 2018,^[16] 2019,^[17] and 2020.^[18] Since Joe Biden was elected president in 2020, he has also issued Executive Orders for Patriot Day in 2021,^[19] 2022,^[20] and 2023.^[21]

Observance

 

In Washington, D.C., three American flags fly at half-mast on Columbus Circle (outside of Union Station) on Patriot Day 2013. The flags of several US states and territories can be seen also flying at half-mast in the background.

The flag of the United States is flown at half-staff at the White House and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments throughout the world; Americans are also encouraged to display flags in and outside their homes. Additionally, a moment of silence is observed to correspond with the attacks, beginning at 8:46 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), the time the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Patriot Day is not a federal holiday; schools and businesses remain open in observance of the occasion, although memorial ceremonies for the 2,977 victims are often held. Volunteer and service opportunities are coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

References

1. National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims Of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001 September 6, 2017, at the Wayback Machine A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
2. "Bill Summary & Status 107th Congress (2001–2002) H.J.RES.71 All Information – Office of the Clerk". from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
3. Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 111–13 (text) (PDF)
4. "Presidential Proclamation: Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance". White House Office of the Press Secretary. September 10, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
5. "Presidential Proclamation: Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance". White House Office of the Press Secretary. September 10, 2010. from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
6. "Presidential Proclamation: Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance". White House Office of the Press Secretary. September 9, 2011. from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
7. "Presidential Proclamation: Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance". White House Office of the Press Secretary. September 10, 2012. from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
8. "Presidential Proclamation: Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance". White House Office of the Press Secretary. September 11, 2013. from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
9. Office of the Press Secretary (September 8, 2017). "President Donald J. Trump Proclaims Friday, September 8, 2017, through Sunday, September 10, 2017, as National Days of Prayer and Remembrance". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved September 20, 2017 – via National Archives.
10. White House [@WhiteHouse] (September 8, 2017). "President Donald J. Trump Proclaims Fri, Sept 8, 2017 - Sun, Sept 10, 2017 as National Days of Prayer & Remembrance:" (Tweet). Retrieved September 20, 2017 – via Twitter.
11. "National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, 2017". Federal Register. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. September 8, 2017. from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
12. Office of the Press Secretary (September 8, 2017). "President Donald J. Trump Proclaims September 11, 2017, as Patriot Day". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved September 21, 2017 – via National Archives.
13. White House 45 [@WhiteHouse45] (September 11, 2017). "President Donald J. Trump Proclaims September 11, 2017, as Patriot Day:" (Tweet). Retrieved September 21, 2017 – via Twitter.
14. Wang, Christine. "Trump to proclaim National Day of Patriotism, spokesman say". CNBC. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: NBCUniversal News Group. from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
15. "Patriot Day, 2017". Federal Register. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. September 8, 2017. from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
16. "Patriot Day, 2018". Federal Register. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. September 13, 2018.
17. "Patriot Day, 2019". Federal Register. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. September 16, 2019.
18. "President Trump's Proclamation on Patriot Day, September 11, 2020". Vatican City: U.S. Mission Holy See. September 11, 2020.
19. "A Proclamation on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 2021". The White House. September 10, 2021.
20. "A Proclamation on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 2022". The White House. September 9, 2022.
21. "A Proclamation on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 2023". The White House. September 8, 2023.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Patriot Day.

• Text of the statute
  • Public Law 107-89
  • 36 U.S.C. § 144
• 2001 proclamation, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,   2009 , 2010, 2011
• Detailed information on the bill from THOMAS February 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
• U.S. Army's Patriot Day Website