Watertown American Legion Post 17 to Display Avenue of Flags for Patriot Day on 25th Anniversary of 9/11

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD — Communities across the United States will pause on Wednesday, September 11, to observe Patriot Day, the annual day of remembrance honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks, a milestone underscoring both the passage of time and the enduring impact of that day.

According to the release, Patriot Day is

“a time to remember those we’ve lost, the courage of those who responded that day and those who served the nation in the years that followed.”

On the morning of September 11, 2001, four commercial airplanes were hijacked. Three were deliberately flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks remain the deadliest act of terrorism ever carried out on U.S. soil. The document notes that 2,977 people died, including 411 emergency responders who lost their lives while attempting rescues and fighting fires.

The aftermath reshaped national security policy and international relations, particularly U.S. engagement in the Middle East. “The attacks have greatly increased attention to national security in the United States,” the release states, noting the long‑term political and global implications that followed.

As part of the national observance, the U.S. flag is flown at half‑staff on all federal buildings, and Americans are encouraged to display flags at their homes. Patriot Day was formally established in 2002 when President George W. Bush proclaimed September 11 as a national day of remembrance.

Locally, American Legion Post 17 will once again display its Avenue of Flags in honor of the victims and first responders. The release notes that the display is part of the community’s longstanding tribute to those lost on September 11.