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Patriot Day falls on Saturday, September 11, 2027. That is 319 days away.

Patriot Day is a national day of remembrance for the people killed in the terrorist attacks on the United States. Hijacked airliners struck the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia. A fourth plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 people died.

The day honors those who were lost. It also honors the firefighters, police officers, emergency medical workers and ordinary people who went toward danger to help others, many of whom lost their lives in the effort.

The observance is also called the National Day of Service and Remembrance. That name reflects a common way of marking it: people volunteer in their communities, give blood, or help a neighbor as a way of carrying the memory forward through service.

Across the country, the day is usually quiet. Flags are flown at half-staff. Many communities hold ceremonies at fire stations, town halls and memorials, often with a moment of silence at the times the attacks took place. In New York, the names of the victims are read aloud at the memorial where the towers once stood, one name after another, by family members who come to speak them.

Ways to honor this day

• Display a flag at half-staff at your home or business.
• Observe a moment of silence at a local ceremony or at home.
• Volunteer with a local food bank, shelter or community group.
• Write a note of thanks to your local fire or police station.
• Visit a nearby memorial and read the names listed there.

Dates

All national days on September 11

Categories: Commemorative daysHistory days