September 11 was designated as "Patriot Day" (singular) by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 18, 2001. This is a distinct and separate observance from "Patriots' Day" (plural), a long-standing state holiday in April that commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord at the start of the American Revolution.
The formal designation resulted from U.S. House Joint Resolution 71, which requested the President to proclaim September 11 of each year as Patriot Day. The law (Public Law 107-89) calls for the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff at all U.S. government buildings and individual American homes. It also asks for Americans to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center, to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The terminological distinction is crucial: "Patriot Day" specifically honors the nearly 3,000 individuals who died in the terrorist attacks. In 2009, Congress further designated September 11 as a "National Day of Service and Remembrance" through the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. This addition encourages Americans to engage in charitable service and community activities as a tribute, expanding the day's purpose from solemn remembrance to active community engagement.
