# Mail On Patriot Day. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178 "2017-09-12T16:58:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/1 "2017-09-12T16:58:22Z")
Yesterday (Patriot Day, if you are reading this later), I thought I might go to the post office to check my P. O. box mail. Then it occurred to me. It is Patriot Day, a federal holiday, to commemorate 9-11. Mail people get a lot of holidays off, as they should. They have a hard job. And I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to the P.O. and found it closed, because I forgot it was another federal holiday. Then I was out and about, running other errands, when I saw all these letter carriers, delivering mail. And sure enough, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I did get mail yesterday. And I did go to my P.O. box. And sure enough, my box mail was available. But all the windows were closed. What gives? Is Patriot Day a federal holiday or is it? It is listed on all my calendars. And there were commemorative ceremonies. What is the answer? And I know that this is GQ. But I have to ask. Are any of you as confused as I am? 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/2 "2017-09-12T17:08:10Z")
According to wikipedia… Patriot Day is not a federal holiday; schools and businesses remain open in observance of the occasion, although memorial ceremonies for the victims are often held. Volunteer and service opportunities are coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Not sure why you thought it was a federal holiday. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/3 "2017-09-12T17:09:54Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Yesterday (Patriot Day, if you are reading this later), I thought I might go to the post office to check my P. O. box mail. Then it occurred to me. It is Patriot Day, a federal holiday, to commemorate 9-11. Mail people get a lot of holidays off, as they should. They have a hard job. And I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to the P.O. and found it closed, because I forgot it was another federal holiday. > > Then I was out and about, running other errands, when I saw all these letter carriers, delivering mail. And sure enough, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I did get mail yesterday. And I did go to my P.O. box. And sure enough, my box mail was available. But all the windows were closed. > > What gives? Is Patriot Day a federal holiday or is it? It is listed on all my calendars. And there were commemorative ceremonies. What is the answer? And I know that this is GQ. But I have to ask. Are any of you as confused as I am? > > 🙂 🙂 🙂 It is not a [federal holiday](https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/holidays-work-schedules-and-pay). It is, by Presidential decree, a day of national mourning and service. But it’s not a Federal day off. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/4 "2017-09-12T17:12:33Z")
I do just have to ask though: Why were all the windows closed then? We’re they just being lazy or did they have just cause? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/5 "2017-09-12T17:13:40Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > I do just have to ask though: Why were all the windows closed then? We’re they just being lazy or did they have just cause? Are you in Florida?? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/6 "2017-09-12T17:15:42Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Are you in Florida?? Detroit, MI ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/7 "2017-09-12T17:18:28Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Detroit, MI Well, then, Hurricane preparation isn’t the answer. But perhaps urban blight is to blame. Regardless, as noted, Patriot Day isn’t a national holiday. Yet. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/8 "2017-09-12T20:54:11Z")
Patriot Day is not a federal holiday, nor as far as I know a state one. [Patriot’s Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots'_Day), however, is a state holiday in two states. I believe, Patriot’s (the possessive one) Day celebrates Paul Revere running 26 miles to bring Boston the news of the victory at Concord Bridge. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/9 "2017-09-12T20:54:18Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Why were all the windows closed then? We’re they just being lazy or did they have just cause? Probably a cost-saving measure. I suspect there’s probably a buzzer/bell with a sign reading ‘ring for service’. This lets one person run the counter when there are customers and do some easily-interruptable task in the back office when there isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/10 "2017-09-12T21:37:51Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > I believe, Patriot’s (the possessive one) Day celebrates Paul Revere running 26 miles to bring Boston the news of the victory at Concord Bridge. And, after telling the news, he died. And the event is commemorated with an annual run aliong the Freedom Trail, which follows the 26 mile route. This I learned in skool. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178/11 "2017-09-12T22:18:16Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Yesterday (Patriot Day, if you are reading this later), I thought I might go to the post office to check my P. O. box mail. Then it occurred to me. It is Patriot Day, a federal holiday, to commemorate 9-11. Mail people get a lot of holidays off, as they should. They have a hard job. And I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to the P.O. and found it closed, because I forgot it was another federal holiday. The USPS publishes a calendar of postal holidays every year: > **[2017 Postal Holidays](https://about.usps.com/news/events-calendar/2017-postal-holidays.htm)** > > A list of days that the U.S. Postal Service will be closed. Post Offices will not be open and there will be no mail delivery on these dates.