In December 18, 2001, President George W. Bush signed Public Law 107-89 which designated September 11 as Patriot Day, in memory of the 2,974 casualties of the September 11, 2001, attack on New York City and the Pentagon.

 

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. Organizations across the country will conduct special ceremonies. People who personally experienced the events in 2001 or lost loved ones in them, may lay flowers or visit memorials.

Patriot Day is not a federal holiday and schools and businesses do not close. However, this is an opportunity to remember those who so tragically lost their lives, their loved ones, or whom themselves were scarred by this terrorist attack that changed the pyche of the American public.