[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9636 of September 8, 2017

Patriot Day, 2017

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On Patriot Day, we honor the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken from us
on September 11, 2001, and all of those who so nobly aided their fellow
citizens in America's time of need. We rededicate ourselves to the
ideals that define our country and unite us as one, as we commemorate
all the heroes who lost their lives saving others.
September 11, 2001, will forever be one of the most tragic days in
American history. Through the unimaginable despair, however, ordinary
Americans etched into our history remarkable illustrations of bravery,
of sacrifice for one another, and of dedication to our shared values.
The shock from the indelible images of the smoke rising from the World
Trade Center and Pentagon gave way to countless inspiring videos of co-
workers helping one another to safety; of heroes running into collapsing
buildings to save the innocent people trapped within; and to the
unforgettable story of the patriots who charged the cockpit of Flight 93
to save untold numbers of lives. These heroes moved us with their
bravery. They make us proud to be Americans.
Throughout history, everyday Americans and first responders have done
the extraordinary through selfless acts of patriotism, compassion, and
uncommon courage. Not just in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, but
across our great Nation, Americans on September 11, 2001,

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bound themselves together for the common good, saying with one voice
that we will be neither scared nor defeated. The enemy attempted to tear
at the fabric of our society by destroying our buildings and murdering
our innocent, but our strength has not and will not waiver. Americans
today remain steadfast in our commitment to liberty, to human dignity,
and to one another.
It has been 16 years since the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Children
who lost their parents on that day are now parents of their own, while
many teenagers currently in high school learn about September 11th only
from their history books. Yet all Americans are imbued with the same
commitment to cause and love of their fellow citizens as everyone who
lived through that dark day. We will never forget. The events of
September 11, 2001, did not defeat us. They did not rattle us. They,
instead, have rallied us, as leaders of the civilized world, to defeat
an evil ideology that preys on innocents and knows nothing but violence
and destruction.
On this anniversary, I invite all Americans to thank our Nation's
incredible service members and first responders, who are on the front
lines of our fight against terrorism. We will always remember the
sacrifices made in defense of our people, our country, and our freedom.
The spirit of service and self-sacrifice that Americans so nobly
demonstrated on September 11, 2001, is evident in the incredible
response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The same spirit of American
patriotism we movingly witnessed on September 11th has filled our hearts
as we again see the unflinching courage, compassion, and generosity of
Americans for their neighbors and countrymen. The service members and
first responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and in the
years of service since would be proud of what we have all witnessed over
these last three weeks and what will undoubtedly unfold in the coming
months of recovery. By protecting those in need, by taking part in acts
of charity, service, and compassion, and by giving back to our
communities and country, we honor those who gave their lives on and
after September 11, 2001.
By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89),
the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as ``Patriot
Day.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2017, as Patriot Day. I call
upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United
States to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot
Day in honor of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11,
2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and its territories
and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance.
I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community
service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services,
and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern
Daylight Time to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of

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the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
forty-second.
DONALD J. TRUMP