Honolulu, Hawaii — A 30-foot American flag destroyed when the Twin Towers collapsed on September 11, 2001 will be at the USS Missouri Memorial on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, where local service heroes will help stitch The National 9/11 Flag back to its original 13-stripe format.
The National 9/11 Flag is currently traveling around the country as part of a historic restoration effort, sponsored by The New York Says Thank You Foundation, to make the flag whole again by the 10th year Anniversary of 9/11. It will become part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center site.
Local civic organizations and the public have nominated service heroes from Hawaii who are shining examples of service and sacrifice to their communities and the Nation to participate in the stitching ceremony. These service heroes will be announced at the event.
Destroyed in the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 and stitched back together seven years later by tornado survivors in Greensburg, Kansas, The National 9/11 Flag is a living testament to the resilience and compassion of the American people. It is the modern day version of The Star Spangled Banner. The New York Says Thank You Foundation is currently taking this 30 foot American Flag on a journey across America where wounded warriors, military veterans, first responders, community service heroes, educators, students, and 9/11 family members in all 50 states will be given the historic privilege of stitching the flag back to its original 13-stripe format using pieces of fabric from American flags destined for retirement in each state. Once the flag is restored and made whole again by the 10th Year Anniversary of 9/11, The National 9/11 Flag will become a part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center site. For more information or to Sponsor a Stitch for $5, visit www.National911Flag.org
Started in 2003 by the suggestion of a 5-year-old boy in New York and recognized by President Obama in 2009, The New York Says Thank You Foundation has grown into one of the Nation’s leading organizations to transform the 9/11 Anniversary into a positive and hands-on platform for national volunteer service. Each year on the 9/11 Anniversary, New York Says Thank You Foundation sends large groups of volunteers from New York City to help rebuild communities around the United States recovering from disaster. It’s the group’s way of saying “Thank You” for all the love and support Americans from across the country extended to New Yorkers in the days, weeks, and months following September 11. The New York Says Thank You Foundation is proud to be the national custodian for The National 9/11 Flag. For more information, see www.NewYorkSaysThankYou.org.