September is a month with several Special Designated Days that cover a range of occurrences and issues we should always remember. The month began with Labor Day, a federal holiday for many. The next special day is Patriot Day, occurring on September 11 each year in memory of the people killed in the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Patriot Day
Immediately after the attacks, President George W. Bush proclaimed Friday, September 14th as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001. A bill was introduced in Congress, by Rep. Vito Fossella from New York, to designate September 11 of each year as Patriot Day. The bill passed unanimously, and Pres. Bush signed the resolution into law on December 18. The first official Patriot Day was September 11, 2002. This was to last until 2016. President Barack Obama proclaimed September 11 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. President Donald Trump proclaimed September 8-10 as National Days of Prayer and Remembrance and September 11 as Patriot Day. This year Patriot Day will be Thursday, September 11th.
Flags are to be flown at half-mast on all government buildings and establishments throughout the world. Displaying flags at homes is encouraged and a moment of silence is observed to correspond with the attacks, beginning at 8:46 am when the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Patriot Day is not a federal holiday. Schools and businesses remain open. Memorial services for the 2,977 victims are held at various locations around the country.
National Grandparents Day
National Grandparents Day is a special day honoring Grandparents everywhere. This day is celebrated in various countries around the world and is either a single day celebration or in some countries separate Grandmothers’ Day and Grandfathers’ Day events are held. National Grandparents Day in the U.S. is Sunday, September 7th.
The establishment of this day went through a 10-year journey, first beginning as a letter from 9-year-old Russell Capper to President Nixon asking for a special day to honor Grandparents. Marian McQuade would continue the quest to make a special day for Grandparents. McQuade made it her goal to educate the youth on the contributions of seniors in her community and encouraged youth to “adopt” a grandparent to honor. In 1973, Senator Jennings Randolph introduced a resolution to the Senate to make Grandparents’ Day a national holiday. This died in committee but was reintroduced in February 1977 and this time it passed, and the proclamation was signed by President Jimmy Carter on August 3, 1978. The proclamation designated the first Sunday after Labor Day of each year as National Grandparents’ Day.
Numerous countries around the world have a day of celebration for Grandparents’. Times of the year range in months selected, with a few days in October and most of them always on a Sunday. The flower of the U.S. National Grandparents’ Day is the forget-me-not, which blooms in the spring. One gift most Grandparents receive is a bouquet of seasonal flowers in appreciation and to honor them.
Constitution Day/Citizenship Day
Constitution Day, otherwise referred to as Citizenship Day is a federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is normally observed on September 17th, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional convention signed the document in Philadelphia. This year’s Citizenship Day will be Wednesday, September 17th.
The law establishing the day was created in 2004 with the passage of an amendment by Senator Robert Byrd attached to the Omnibus spending bill of 2004. Thoughts for this day goes back to 1939 when “I am an American Day” was arranged as part of the New York World’s Fair. The popularity of the day was named an official day by President Roosevelt. By 1947, William Randolph Hearst had become involved and through newsreels shown in movie theatres as “News of the Day”, the concept had changed to honoring Constitution Day. On Feb. 29, 1952, Congress moved the “I am an American Day” observation to September 17th and renamed it “Citizenship Day”. The day is a day of recognition with all businesses and governmental agencies, for the most part, remaining open.
September 22nd also marks the beginning of Autumn and Rosh Hashanah.
Honor the days, remember why the days were established and celebrate as you see fit.
