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| Observances in the United States | |
|---|---|
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| Observed by | Federal government |
| Type | National |
United States federal observances are days, weeks, months, or other periods designated by theUnited States Congress for the commemoration or other observance of various events, activities, or topics. These observances differ from federal holidays in that federal employees only receive a day free from work on holidays, not observances. Federal observances that are designated byCongress appear in Title 36 of theUnited States Code (36 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.). Below is a list of all observances so designated. Note that not all of the laws below require that the observance be declared, in some cases, such as36 U.S.C. § 114, Congress simply requested the president to issue a proclamation of the observance. They are published atPub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998,112 Stat. 1256.; Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998,112 Stat. 1261.; Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998,112 Stat. 1262.;Pub. L. 107–89, § 1, Dec. 18, 2001,115 Stat. 876.; andPub. L. 114–240, § 2(a), Oct. 7, 2016,130 Stat. 974..
The president may also declare selected federal observances by presidential proclamation. Those observances are referenced at theList of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation.
| Date | Observance | Details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 13 (Fixed) | Stephen Foster Memorial Day | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies,pilgrimages to Foster'smemorial sites, and musical programs featuringhis compositions. | 36 U.S.C. § 140 |
| February 1 (Fixed) | National Freedom Day | Commemorates the signing of theThirteenth Amendment by PresidentAbraham Lincoln on February 1, 1865. | 36 U.S.C. § 124 |
| April 13 (Fixed) | Thomas Jefferson's Birthday | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to commemorate Jefferson's birthday in schools, churches, "or other suitable places." | 36 U.S.C. § 141 |
| March 9 (Fixed) | U.S. Hostages and Wrongful Detainees Day | Calls upon the people to observe the holiday with "appropriate ceremonies and activities" and for the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag to be displayed.[1] | 36 U.S.C. § 148 |
| May 1 (Fixed) | Law Day, U.S.A. | For the people of the U.S. to appreciate their liberties under U.S. law by displaying theAmerican flag on all government buildings and appropriate ceremonies in schools "or other suitable places." | 36 U.S.C. § 113 |
| May 1 (Fixed) | Loyalty Day | For the people of the U.S. to reaffirm their loyalty to the United States by displaying theAmerican flag on all government buildings and appropriate ceremonies in schools "or other suitable places." | 36 U.S.C. § 115 |
| May 1–7 (Floating Thursday) | National Day of Prayer | Sets aside a day on which the people of the U.S. "may turn toGod in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals." | 36 U.S.C. § 119 |
| May 8–14 (Floating Sunday) | Mother's Day | Calls upon government officials to display theAmerican flag on all government buildings and upon the people of the U.S. to display the flag at their homes as a public expression of love and reverence for their mothers. | 36 U.S.C. § 117 |
| May 15 (Fixed) | Peace Officers Memorial Day | In honor of federal, state, and local officers killed or disabled in the line of duty, Congress directs government officials to display theAmerican flag athalf-staff and calls upon the people of the U.S. to commemorate the day, including displaying the flag at half-staff. | 36 U.S.C. § 136 |
| May 15–21 (Floating Friday) | National Defense Transportation Day | Urges the people of the U.S. in all communities served by the various forms of transportation to recognize the importance of the U.S. transportation infrastructure to their communities in times of conflict and peace. | 36 U.S.C. § 120 |
| May 22 (Fixed) | National Maritime Day | Calls upon government officials to display theAmerican flag on all government buildings and upon the people of the U.S. to display the flag at their homes. | 36 U.S.C. § 128 |
| May 25–31 (Floating Monday) | Memorial Day | Calls on the people of the U.S. and the media to observe the day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace, at a specific time proclaimed by the president. Memorial Day is also afederal holiday. | 36 U.S.C. § 116 |
| June 14 (Fixed) | Flag Day | Calls upon government officials to display theAmerican flag on all government buildings and upon the people of the U.S. to display the flag at their homes in celebration of the flag's official adoption on June 14, 1777. | 36 U.S.C. § 110 |
| June 15–22 (Floating Sunday) | Father's Day | Calls upon government officials to display theAmerican flag on all government buildings and upon the people of the U.S. to offer public and private expressions of love and gratitude to their fathers. | 36 U.S.C. § 109 |
| July 22–28 (Floating Sunday) | Parents' Day | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to recognize the day through proclamations, activities, and educational efforts that uplift and support the role of parents in raising their children. | 36 U.S.C. § 135 |
| July 27 (Fixed) | National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day | Calls upon government officials to display theAmerican flag athalf-staff on all government buildings and upon the people of the U.S. to host appropriate celebrations each year until 2003. | 36 U.S.C. § 127 |
| August 19 (Fixed) | National Aviation Day | Calls upon government officials to display theAmerican flag at on all government buildings and upon the people of the U.S. to generate interest inaviation in the United States. | 36 U.S.C. § 118 |
| September 6–12 (Floating Saturday) | Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to celebrate the day with appropriate cleanup activities. States may move the day if inclement weather takes place on the first Saturday afterLabor Day. | 36 U.S.C. § 104 |
| September 7–13 (Floating Sunday) | National Grandparents Day | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to celebrate the day with appropriate activities. Takes place the first Sunday afterLabor Day. | 36 U.S.C. § 125 |
| September 11 (Fixed) | Patriot Day | Calls upon all organizations and people of the U.S. to display theAmerican flag athalf-staff in honor of those who lost their lives in theSeptember 11 attacks in 2001. | 36 U.S.C. § 144 |
| September 17 (Fixed) | Constitution Day and Citizenship Day | Calls upon civil and educational authorities of state and local governments to celebrate the day by educating the public about their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and their respective states and localities. | 36 U.S.C. § 106 |
| September 24–30 (Floating Sunday) | Gold Star Mother's Day | Calls upon government officials to display theAmerican flag on all government buildings and upon the people of the U.S. to display the flag at their homes as a public expression of love, sorrow, and reverence for Gold Star mothers. | 36 U.S.C. § 111 |
| October 1–8 (Floating Monday) | Child Health Day | Calls upon all agencies and organizations interested in child welfare to make the people of the U.S. aware of the fundamental necessity of a year-round program to protect and develop the health of the children in the United States. | 36 U.S.C. § 105 |
| October 9 (Fixed) | Leif Erikson Day | CommemoratesLeif Erikson, theNorse explorer. | 36 U.S.C. § 114 |
| October 8–14 (Floating Monday) | Columbus Day | Calls upon government officials to display theAmerican flag on all government buildings and upon the people of the U.S. to celebrate thevoyages of Christopher Columbus to the Americas. Columbus Day is also afederal holiday. | 36 U.S.C. § 107 |
| October 15 (Fixed) | White Cane Safety Day | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to celebrate the achievements of people who areblind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, thewhite cane. | 36 U.S.C. § 142 |
| November 11 (Fixed) | Veterans Day | Calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence beginning at 11:11 a.m.Pacific Standard Time. Veterans Day is also afederal holiday. | 36 U.S.C. § 145 |
| December 7 (Fixed) | National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day | Calls upon all organizations and people of the U.S. to display theAmerican flag athalf-staff in honor of those who lost their lives during theattack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. | 36 U.S.C. § 129 |
| December 17 (Fixed) | Pan American Aviation Day | Calls upon all organizations and people of the U.S. to stimulate interest inaviation in the United States, advancements in rapid communications, and the cultural development between countries of theWestern Hemisphere. | 36 U.S.C. § 134 |
| December 17 (Fixed) | Wright Brothers Day | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to celebrate the anniversary of the first successful flights in aheavier-than-air aircraft that were made by theWright brothers in 1903. | 36 U.S.C. § 143 |
| Week | Observance | Details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First week of March | Save Your Vision Week | Urges the media, health care professions, and other agencies and individuals to support programs to support programs to improve and protect the vision of the people of the U.S. and to convince them of the importance of their vision to their welfare and the welfare of the country. | 36 U.S.C. § 138 |
| Third week of March | National Poison Prevention Week | Aims to encourage the people of the U.S. to learn of the dangers of accidental poisoning and to take preventive measures according to the seriousness of the dangers. | 36 U.S.C. § 130 |
| Week containing May 15 | Police Week | Recognizes of the service given by those who protect the people of the U.S. throughlaw enforcement and invites state governments, local governments, and people to display theAmerican flag athalf-staff, among other appropriate activities. | 36 U.S.C. § 137 |
| Week containing the third Friday of May | National Transportation Week | Invites the people of the U.S. to commemorate those who move goods and individuals throughout the country. | 36 U.S.C. § 133 |
| Week ending on the Friday beforeMemorial Day | National Safe Boating Week | Invites the people of the U.S. to understand the importance of safeboating practices. | 36 U.S.C. § 131 |
| Week containing June 14 | National Flag Week | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to display theAmerican flag. | 36 U.S.C. § 122 |
| September 17–23 | Constitution Week | Invites the people of the U.S. to celebrate the anniversary of thesigning of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. | 36 U.S.C. § 108 |
| Week beginning the second Sunday of October | National School Lunch Week | Celebrates the creation of the1946 federal law that provides low-cost or freeschool lunch meals to qualifying students. | 36 U.S.C. § 132 |
| Week beginning the third Sunday of October | National Forest Products Week | Recognizes the value offorest products and the conservation practices that help responsibly manage theforests of the United States.[2] | 36 U.S.C. § 123 |
| Month | Observance | Details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | American Heart Month | Urges the people of the U.S. to recognize the nationwide problem ofheart-related diseases and to support programs required to solve the problem. | 36 U.S.C. § 101 |
| April | Cancer Control Month | Invites the medical profession, media, and all others interested in a national program for the control ofcancer to unite and make the people of the U.S. aware of the need for a program. | 36 U.S.C. § 103 |
| May | Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to recognize the contributions and influence ofAsian Americans andPacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. | 36 U.S.C. § 102 |
| May | Steelmark Month | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to recognize the contribution made by theiron and steel industry tonational security and defense. | 36 U.S.C. § 139 |
| September 15 – October 15 | National Hispanic Heritage Month | Calls upon the people of the U.S. to recognize the contributions and influence ofHispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. | 36 U.S.C. § 126 |
| October | National Disability Employment Awareness Month | Aims to garner public support for and interest in the employment of workers withdisabilities who are otherwise qualified. | 36 U.S.C. § 121 |
| Period | Observance | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag Day through Independence Day (21 days) | Honor America Days | Congress declares that there be public gatherings and activities for the people of the U.S. to honor the United States. | 36 U.S.C. § 112 |