Patriot Day

The attacks that occurred on September 11th, 2001, were a series of four suicide attacks that were coordinated to strike areas of New York City and Washington, D.C. On that Tuesday morning, 19 terrorists from the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets. The hijackers intentionally piloted two of those planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York City; both towers collapsed within two hours. The hijackers also intentionally crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and intended to pilot the fourth hijacked jet, United Airlines Flight 93, into the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.; however, the plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers attempted to take control of the jet from the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks, including the 246 civilians and 19 hijackers aboard the four planes.

The Beginning of Patriot Day

Not to be confused with Patriots’ Day that acknowledges the American Revolution, Patriot Day is a day of national observance to those who lost their lives on that fateful Tuesday morning in 2001. Although it is not a national holiday, memorials and moments of silence are still observed by Americans throughout the nation.

Shortly after the September 11th attacks, a bill was introduced to the House of Representatives on October 25th, 2001 to make September 11th a national day of mourning. The bill passed both in the House and Senate and was signed into law on December 18th, 2001. In 2002, President George W Bush proclaimed September 11th at the first Patriot Day. Since then, other presidents have designated September 11th as Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Ways To Observe

• Flags are to be flown at half-staff on all US government buildings and establishments throughout the world (ex: embassies).
• Fly flags at half-staff or with a mourning bow or streamer off of home and businesses.
• Observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 EST, when the first plane flew into the World Trade Center.
• Attend a memorial ceremony in your town or visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on the grounds of the World Trade Center. Please note: Sunday, September 11, 2022: The Memorial and Museum will be closed in observance of the 21st anniversary. The Memorial only will reopen to the public at 3 p.m. To learn more, click here: https://www.911memorial.org/
• Find volunteer and service opportunities that help those that survived the attacks.
• Talk to heroes, survivors, or family members of those who perished in the attacks. Learn their stories so you can bring awareness and educate others about these events.
• If you would like to find other ways to get involved, like participating in a 5K Run/Walk, click here: https://www.911memorial.org/get-involved
• Lastly, if you cannot donate your time, but if you are willing donate your extra cash, please click here to make a monetary donation to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum: https://www.911memorial.org/make-monetary-donatio...