Famous 9/11 flag that gave hope to millions turns up 3,000 miles away from Ground Zero

Officials are still trying to figure out what happened to the flag after 9-11.

One of the most famous flags in American history has been rediscovered thousands of miles away from where it was first hoisted. The 9-11 flag, as it is often called went missing after the disaster, but has turned up in Washington state. The flag has been returned and put on display in New York.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - As America reeled from the shock of the 9/11 terror attacks, one iconic image was captured that restored our hope. Firefighters on 9/11 saw a flag on a yacht docked next to the World Trade Center. They cut the flag down and took it to the World Trade Center site. It was hoisted over the heads of recovery workers.

At the moment it was raised, a photographer managed to capture the iconic moment. Firefighters raised a pole much like the Marines did on Iwo Jima during World War II. The striking similarities between the two events caused the flag raising to go viral, a sign that America can overcome any challenge when we work together.

By the end of the day, the flag came down. It later turned up in the possession of the Mayor Rudy Guliani's office as city property. It was signed by the mayor and Gov. George Pataki, then flown at City Hall. From there it went to Yankee Stadium. Finally, the flag toured with the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Middle East.

After its return from the Middle East, the original owner of the flag from whose yacht it was borrowed was asked if he would formerly donate the flag. When, Shirley Dreifus, the flag's original owner saw it, she pointed out a size discrepancy. The real 9/11 flag was distinctly smaller.

The flag that so proudly toured New York and the Middle East was five by eight feet, while the original 9/11 flag was four by six.

An effort was launched by Dreifus to rediscover the now lost original 9/11 flag. The flag turned up in October 2014, in possession of a Marine veteran named "Brian."

At some point, a 9/11 widow was given the flag. The widow gave the flag to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worker. The NOAA worker eventually gave the flag to Brian. Brian told authorities he was a former Marine, and declined to give his last name. The flag was allegedly flown over a firehouse in Washington state.

Brian turned the flag in to the state police who turned it over to the WTC Museum.

The flag was easily authenticated. The dust from the rubble of 9/11 is very distinctive, infused with ash and human remains.

With the mystery solved, the flag has been placed on proud display at the World Trade Center Museum.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online