Patriot Day in the USA is the comemoration of the terrorists attacks on the
World Trade Center on 11th September 2001. Two planes crashed into the
Twin Towers, and 2,977 people died in the attacks.
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| President Obama and his wife on September 11th, 2009 |
On this day, people in the United States observe a moment of silence, starting at 8:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time (2:46 AM in France), the time when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The American flag is flown at half-staff to indicate the presence of death.
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| The American flag at half-staff |
However, Patriot Day is not a federal holiday, so the schools, shops and businesses do not close.
People usually refer to this day as "9/11" (nine eleven) or simply "September 11th".
