Patriot Day and American Flag Etiquette

By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the U.S. Congress has designated each September 11 as “Patriot Day.”

This nationwide observance marks the shocking 2001 attack on the United States in which thousands were killed by terrorists who crashed four hijacked civilian aircraft into The World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon building near Washington D.C., and a rural area in southwestern Pennsylvania.

On Friday, September 11, 2026, the 25th anniversary of this terrible tragedy, Americans are encouraged to hold appropriate, solemn ceremonies; to observe moments of silence or prayer; and all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the United States are to fly the United States flag at half-staff from sunup to sundown on that day.    

This and all such notices regarding American flag etiquette are a free service of LaMATS. If you would like to receive future half-staff notifications, contact Cliff Palmer, LaMATS Executive Director by email at cpalmer@lamats.net or visit lamats.net/halfstaff to sign up.

Read more about proper treatment of the United States flag on Patriot Day by clicking here.