September 11th is officially designated as Patriot Day, not Patriots' Day. The two are separate and distinct observances in the United States. While their names are similar, they commemorate different historical events and occur on different dates. Patriots' Day is a regional holiday observed in April.
Patriot Day, held annually on September 11, is a national day of remembrance for the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. It was established by presidential proclamation immediately following the attacks and signed into law in 2002. The day is observed with the U.S. flag flown at half-staff and a national moment of silence. Conversely, Patriots' Day is a state holiday in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin, celebrated on the third Monday of April. It commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord of 1775, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War.
The core distinction lies in the event each day honors. Patriot Day is a modern, solemn day of mourning and reflection on a national tragedy. Patriots' Day is a historical, celebratory commemoration of a foundational event in American history, often marked by reenactments and civic events like the Boston Marathon. The similarity in naming is the primary source of confusion, but the dates, origins, and tones of the observances are entirely different.
