Murky black seared by streaks of light raining down like demons from hell. The screaming fury wreaks havoc on the landscape. The attack rages on unrelenting. Nothing is as it was. Everything in question. Can this be survived? Will the light ever come? And when the smoke clears — if it ever does — what will be left?
Found among the debris
Two days after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, a large American flag — 20 feet high and over 30 feet wide — was found on a building facing the smoldering wreckage of the south tower. Tarnished by soot, dust, and smoke, tattered and marred by rips and tears in the fabric, the flag was removed and placed in storage for years. (1)
A mission of healing
Then, on the anniversary of 9/11 in 2008, a quiet mission began. This 911 survivor flag was taken to a disaster site in Greensburg, Kansas where volunteers who survived the devastation of a tornado stitched remnants of their survivor flags into the larger flag to help make it whole again. (1)
Over the years, remnants from decommissioned survivor flags from each of the 50 states were stitched into the National 9/11 Flag. Also included are threads from the flag President Lincoln was laid on after his assassination. They were stitched into the National 9/11 Flag on Lincoln’s birthday. (2)
The final remnant — three red threads — came from the original Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired our national anthem by surviving the War of 1812, flying resolutely over Fort McHenry. (1)
Where is the flag now?
The National 9/11 Flag’s permanent residence is in the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The project was overseen by the New York Says Thank You Foundation (NYSTY Foundation). (2) Its Director of Administration, Carolyn Deters, (3) offered her thoughts about the experience of working on the flag:
The love and respect the Honor Guard displayed, the moving tribute of the speakers, and the awe of the audience made it all worthwhile. Being able to help each stitcher and hear what this meant to them is an irreplaceable memory.
What does a flag mean?
Flag day often comes and goes with little notice by most Americans. It’s not a federal holiday. With no time off, our busy lives continue on without so much as a nod to Old Glory. But a flag is more than a colorful icon signifying a particular nation. The flag is more than an accomplishment of textile design no matter how well composed.
The meaning of a flag is demonstrated when the graves of veterans are graced with flags to denote important holidays, such as most recently, Memorial Day. All over the country, members of veterans organizations — like the Veterans of Foreign War and the American Legion — walk through local cemeteries, bending and stooping for as long as it takes, placing flags on each veteran’s grave. With even a slight breeze, the flapping of these flags — like soft applause — acknowledges each veteran.
The meaning of a flag is demonstrated when Eagle Scouts raise money to purchase an official American Flag depository for flags that are no longer fit to display. They position the depository in a place accessible to the public in order to insure our flag is disposed of with the dignity and respect it deserves. These scouts learn how to conduct the ceremony and support each other, as well as their community, in this high duty to their country.
The meaning of a flag is demonstrated when it is draped on a casket. Each action infused with meaning, a member of the Honor Guard carefully folds the flag 13 times into a triangle displaying a constellation of stars on a lush blue background. It is then presented to a grieving family member with these words of condolence: “On behalf of the President of the United States, (the appropriate military branch), and a grateful Nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.” (4)
Beyond these spoken words, it tells the family, “You are not alone. We are with you in your grief.”
The meaning of a flag is demonstrated by all the hands that came together — despite the chaos of catastrophe, despite all that is missing and unresolved, despite the deep, irrevocable pain of loss — to create the grandest survivor flag ever: the National 9/11 Flag.
The National 9/11 Flag will forever serve as a testament to the resilience and compassion of the American people and a powerful symbol to the world that love is stronger than hate. — statement of the NYSTY Foundation
The American flag offers a tactile experience of what dwells within the hearts of each member of a nation. When the hearts and souls of a people unite, there is no limit to what they can accomplish together. Insurmountable odds can be negotiated. Hard times can be managed. The work of being a truly dedicated community — a united nation — can be accomplished.
What makes a nation a nation is that its people come together. And together, we can patch the remnants of our torn hopes and dreams and make something beautifully enduring.
Did you know you can order a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol?
Over the years the focus of the program gradually expanded to encompass the commemoration of national holidays and various special events, as well as to honor the work of groups such as schools and civic organizations. Requests for Capitol flags rapidly outgrew the supply; hence, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) instituted a program of flying smaller flags that may be purchased through members' offices.
The AOC fulfills all flag requests from members of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. Flags are flown daily year-round, weather permitting, excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Currently, the AOC fulfills on average more than 100,000 flag requests from Members of Congress annually, with the number of requests and the popularity of the Capitol Flag Program growing steadily each year. There are special flag poles where all flags are flown. After it is flown over the U.S. Capitol, each flag is issued a keepsake Certificate of Authenticity by the AOC.
Please contact your representative or senator to obtain a flag flown over the Capitol.
Get instructions on proper handling and display of the American Flag.
Video courtesy of Mark Schellenberg (https://www.videvo.net/profile/freaki/)
This video uses this sound from freesound:
Courtesty of Benboncan (https://freesound.org/people/Benboncan/sounds/80079/) under the CC BY 3.0 license
https://national911flag.org
https://newyorksaysthankyou.org/what-we-do/the-national-911-flag/
https://www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/national-911-flag-now-display-museum
https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Brochures/MFH-FlagPresentationProtocol-Brochure.pdf
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