In honor of Patriot Day and the seventh anniversary of the attack on Sept. 11, 2001, Gov. Chet Culver ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown half staff Thursday to remember those who lost their lives.

“On behalf of the First Lady and the Lt. Governor, I want to take this opportunity to honor the lives of the thousands of victims of the attacks on America which occurred on September 11, 2001,” Gov. Chet Culver said in a statement. “Seven Iowans were among those who lost their lives on that day. We will forever keep them, and their families, in our thoughts and prayers.”

Culver’s directive acts upon a joint resolution approved by Congress and signed into law December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89) by President George W. Bush, which designates Sept. 11 of each year as “Patriot Day”:

I [President Bush] also call upon the people of the United States to observe Patriot Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and remembrance services, to display the flag at half-staff from their homes on that day, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. eastern daylight time to honor the innocent Americans and people from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.