Patriot Day became a holiday on September 11, 2001, in the United States as a day of remembrance for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. It was officially designated as Patriot Day by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress on December 18, 2001, when President George W. Bush signed Public Law 107-89. The law called for flags to be flown at half-staff and for moments of silence to honor those who lost their lives in the attacks. However, Patriot Day is not a federal holiday that mandates a day off; it is observed with ceremonies and remembrances nationwide. It is important not to confuse Patriot Day with Patriots' Day (with an "s"), which is a different holiday commemorating the battles of Lexington and Concord from the American Revolutionary War, observed since 1894 in Massachusetts and some other states. Thus, Patriot Day (September 11) became an official observance in 2001, while Patriots' Day (April) was established much earlier in 1894.
