DENVER (KDVR) — The United States and Colorado flags will be lowered on Thursday in honor of the victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
On Thursday, United States and Colorado flags will remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset for National Day of Service and Remembrance, also known as Patriot Day.
The United States Congress said Patriot Day was enacted in 2001 to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost after four airplanes were hijacked by members of the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Two planes hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, while another hit the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in southwestern Pennsylvania.
In 2009, U.S. Congress said Sept. 11 was also designated as National Day of Service and Rememberance. The public law encourages volunteering and acts of service.
Flags are often lowered to half-staff when there’s a national tragedy.
While President Donald Trump and Gov. Jared Polis decided to lower flags this year in honor of Pope Francis’ passing and to respect victims of a shooter who reportedly opened fire through the window of a Catholic church in Minneapolis, there are four designated days when flags across the United States are lowered in accordance with federal law, one being 9/11.
Flags are also lowered each year for Peace Officer Memorial Day, Memorial Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
