# When Will 9/11 be a Federal Holiday? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894 "2002-09-11T01:34:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/1 "2002-09-11T01:34:03Z")
How long will it take Congress to declare 9/11 as a Federal Holiday, or at least receive recognition on the calendars? Also, has it been officially named “Patriots’ Day”? In comparison, does anyone know how long it took “Pearl Harbor Day” to gain such recognition? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/2 "2002-09-11T01:57:43Z")
“Pearl Harbor Day” is not a Federal holiday. “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day” was so proclaimed on Aug. 23, 1994 by [Public Law 103-308.](http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d103:HJ00131:%7CTOM:/bss/d103query.html%7C) So, it took effect 53 years after the bombing. Sept. 11 has already been designated by Act of Congress as [Patriot Day](http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HJ00071:%7CTOM:/bss/d107query.html%7C), becoming Public Law 107-89 on Dec. 18, 2001. There is a section of the United States Code – Title 36 – concerning [Patriotic Observances and National Observances](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/stIpA.html), but they are not all holidays. Federal holidays are covered under Title 5, “Government Organization and Employees.” The Federal holidays are: –Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the third Monday in January. --Washington’s Birthday, the third Monday in February. –Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. –Independence Day, July 4. –Labor Day, the first Monday in September. –Columbus Day, the second Monday in October. –Veterans Day, November 11. –Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November. –Christmas Day, December 25. Inauguration Day is also a Federal holiday for certain Federal government employees and for District of Columbia government employees. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/3 "2002-09-11T02:33:15Z")
How do you know Congress will ever declare it a holiday? Is it a foregone conclusion? This post is the first time ever I’ve encountered the term “Patriot’s Day,” so I’m guessing it’s not official. Note that “Pearl Harbor Day” is not a federal holiday (what’s with the caps on “Federal Holiday,” anyway?). So far as I know it’s not a general rule to mark Dec. 7 on calendars as such. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/4 "2002-09-11T04:35:57Z")
Hmm, it seems that President’s Day and Easter are missing from that list…or am I wrong? As for Sept. 11th becoming a holiday, it has a couple strikes against it. First, it’s so damn close to Labor Day – and re-naming Labor Day to memorialize 9/11 probably won’t fly well with all those Americans wanting to enjoy their last BBQ of the summer. Second, holidays that fall on _specific_ days don’t work very well. Notice how nearly all of these are held on “the second Monday”, etc…even MLK’s b-day! Christmas isn’t as big a problem since many people take off a week or more for the holidays, but scheduling around July 4th can be a royal PITA. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/5 "2002-09-11T05:33:02Z")
More people died at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, but that isn’t a federal holiday either. In one day, 23,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing. [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/1845/](http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/1845/) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/6 "2002-09-11T05:33:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Hmm, it seems that President’s Day and Easter are missing from that list…or am I wrong? From the [U.S. Embassy to Sweden](http://www.usis.usemb.se/Holidays/celebrate/george.html): > [@](#): > > Until 1971, both February 12 and February 22 were observed as federal public holidays to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and George Washington (February 22). > > In 1971 President Richard Nixon proclaimed one single federal public holiday, the Presidents’ Day, to be observed on the third Monday of February, honoring all past presidents of the United States of America. > _Please Note: The Federal statute designates this day as Washington’s Birthday, President Nixon issued a proclamation declaring the holiday as “President’s Day” in 1971. President Nixon erroneously believed that a Presidential proclamation on the matter carried the same weight as an Executive Order. > Since that change in 1971, the common term has been “President’s Day”._ Easter is not a federal holiday; however, it always falls on a Sunday, and Sundays generally are recognized as being outside of the usual workweek in the U.S. The specific U.S. Code section **pldennison** was quoting from is [5 U.S.C. 6103](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/6103.html). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/7 "2002-09-11T05:45:36Z")
If Pearl Harbor Day couldn’t make it as a holiday with days off work, school, etc. I don’t see why Sept. 11th should. Aside from taking a moment every September 11th to mark the occasion and swear it will never happen again, I fail to see why it should be held in high regard. Even _victory_ moments, like V-J Day and V-E Day aren’t occasions to hit the beach (as it were). ---
**Author:** ![EmbarrassingDad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/embarrassingdad/32/5441_2.png) [@EmbarrassingDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmbarrassingDad)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/8 "2002-09-11T07:04:59Z")
From [cnn.com](http://cnn.com) Should September 11 be made a national holiday? Yes 41% 16878 votes No 59% 24649 votes Total: 41,527 votes This QuickVote is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, nor the public as a whole. The QuickVote sponsor is not responsible for content, functionality or the opinions expressed therein. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/9 "2002-09-11T07:53:32Z")
Wow, good thing I voted 8000 times so the “No” could carry the day. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/10 "2002-09-11T14:54:19Z")
I vote no myself. I’d rather it not become a holiday. ---
**Author:** ![miamouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@miamouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miamouse)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/11 "2002-09-11T15:18:51Z")
I think that there are enough holidays that people use just to take the day off (as is their right) without thinking about the meaning behind them. We can remember them on Memorial Day, that’s what I did this year. ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/12 "2002-09-11T18:00:42Z")
Remember, Patriot\*\*'s\*\* Day is different then Patriot Day. 9/11 is recognized as Patriot Day with no apostraphe S. Two different government-named days, two different dates. DaLovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/13 "2002-09-11T18:04:29Z")
If this was the pit I would point out the complete idiocy of naming 9/11 “Patriot Day” when there is already a damn “Patriot’s Day”, and I might add that this is just another illustration of what happens when you have an uncreative and simple-minded president who is in addition one of the worst public speakers I have ever seen, but since it’s not I won’t. DaLovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/14 "2002-09-11T18:22:10Z")
In that case I won’t add that it’s the height of doublespeak to call it “Patriot’s Day” considering what actually happened – Mass Murderers were triumphant that day, the Victims were numerous, and there were also lots of Heroic people who risked and lost their lives. But what the hell do “Patriots” have to do with it? On the one hand, it was a day about bloody murder and on the other hand it was a day about risking one’s life to help those in need. Patriotism doesn’t enter into it as far as I can see. But I’m not saying that. ---
**Author:** ![Doubting\_Robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Doubting\_Robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubting_Robert)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/15 "2002-09-11T20:54:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > \*\*Hmm, it seems that President’s Day and Easter are missing from that list…or am I wrong? > \*\* When Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, birthday became a federal holiday, Good Friday was dropped from the list, to keep the number the same. (Or have I remembered wrong - was Good Friday the federal holiday or was it the day after Easter?) Easter itself was never a federal holiday, for the reason stated above. It appears that Washington’s birthday accidentally didn’t get its own separate line in the list you are referring to, but it’s there, and according to another post, it is the official name for Presidents’ Day. ---
**Author:** ![Doubting\_Robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Doubting\_Robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubting_Robert)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/16 "2002-09-11T21:06:17Z")
Last Sunday, on the TV program “Sunday Morning,” Bill Ghist (sp?) interviewed the widow of someone killed in New York on 9/11/01. She stated that she would not like to see 9/11 become a holiday because she did not want her grandchildren going to 9/11 sales. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![Doubting\_Robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Doubting\_Robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubting_Robert)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/17 "2002-09-11T21:11:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*If Pearl Harbor Day couldn’t make it as a holiday with days off work, school, etc. I don’t see why Sept. 11th should. Aside from taking a moment every September 11th to mark the occasion and swear it will never happen again, I fail to see why it should be held in high regard. Even _victory_ moments, like V-J Day and V-E Day aren’t occasions to hit the beach (as it were). \*\* I agree regarding 9/11. However, we do celebrate one victory day. Veterans’ Day used to be called Armistice Day, because November 11th was the day the armistice was signed ending World War I. We have expanded the group who are honored on that day, but the date still corresponds to a victory. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/18 "2002-09-11T21:13:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dalovindj \* > **If this was the pit I would point out the complete idiocy of naming 9/11 “Patriot Day” when there is already a damn “Patriot’s Day”, and I might add that this is just another illustration of what happens when you have an uncreative and simple-minded president . . .** Before using G.W. Bush as a whipping boy, learn that Patriot Day was created by a joint resolution of Congress, not the president. The resoloution was sponsored on Oct. 25, 2001 by: Mr. **FOSSELLA** (for himself, Mr. **LAHOOD** , Mr. **GILMAN** , Mr. **HINCHEY** , Mr. **ACKERMAN** , Mr. **REYNOLDS** , Mr. **GRUCCI** , Mrs. **MALONEY** of New York, Mr. **ENGEL** , Mr. **KING** , Mr. **NADLER** , Mr. **TOWNS** , Mrs. **LOWEY** , Mr. **MCNULTY** , Mr. **WALSH** , Mr. **ISRAEL** , Mr. **PETERSON** of Pennsylvania, Mr. **FORBES** , Mr. **ENGLISH** , Mr. **SCHROCK** , Mr. **SHERWOOD** , Mr. **BOUCHER** , and Mr. **MORAN** of **Virginia** The president can sign a resolution or veto/pocket veto it; he can’t change it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/19 "2002-09-11T21:48:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doubting Robert \* > \*\*However, we do celebrate one victory day. Veterans’ Day used to be called Armistice Day, because November 11th was the day the armistice was signed ending World War I. We have expanded the group who are honored on that day, but the date still corresponds to a victory. \*\* Differing attitudes; in Canada, November 11th is “Remembrance Day” and it’s a somber reflective time to think about Canadian soldiers killed in combat, not a celebration of the end of WW1. ---
**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894/20 "2002-09-11T22:07:53Z")
I really don’t understand what’s so patriotic about the heros of that day anyway. I mean, if a firefighter or paramedic was on vacation in another country, and there was a disaster, wouldn’t they want to help there? Those acts of heroism were motivated by a desire to help human beings, not just americans, right? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-9-11-be-a-federal-holiday/127894.md?page=2)