The History of 9/11 and the United States Flag Store
On the morning of September 11, 2001, the world was turned upside down. Terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania took thousands of innocent lives and forever changed the course of history. Thousands of firefighters, police, emergency response members, and everyday civilians would band together to try and help. Whether this was running up flights of stairs to get to those still in the towers, directing the stunned and wayward masses and traffic, providing medical assistance or simply offering a helping hand in any way they can. While a tragic event in itself, there is no denying the teamwork and cooperation that would be put on display in an effort to rectify the situation. And while the people of New York were coming together, many more firefighters, police officers, rescue workers, and volunteers from all over the country would take part in the recovery efforts in the following weeks.
In the wake of these attacks, people from all across the nation felt this shockwave and their response was not only one of anger, confusion, empathy, and sadness for those involved in the events but also that of unity, togetherness, and compassion. With this overflow of emotions, there would be an increased demand for American flags as a symbol for everyone to rally under, stand behind, and send a message of hope, optimism, and patriotism to their fellow Americans. In response to this need, Kevin and Lisa Hickey founded the United States Flag Store. It was in the basement of their home that they were able to buy and sell the flag of the United States to consumers and merchants who at the time, desperately needed and wanted them most. Since then, the company has grown to become one of the leading providers of American flags, wholesaling to customers and retailers alike.
In addition to the United States Flag Store, an offshoot website called printourflag.com was created in which customers can print their own American flags completely free!
On this solemn anniversary, we remember and honor not only the victims of the September 11 attacks but also the countless brave men and women who gave so much to help out on this monumental day and after. To them and the courageous men and women of the United States Military who sacrificed their time, bodies, minds, and in some cases, lives in the fight for freedom and justice.
Flying your Flag Half Staff on 9/11
A simple way to honor all of those involved in the September 11 attacks is to fly your American flag at half-staff. The American flag is usually flown at half-staff as a way of mourning but also honoring a significant event, date, or person. If you own an American flag and flagpole, it is one of the easiest ways to show remembrance, care, and your community that you too feel the weight of this day. The standard yearly calendar has a handful of dates throughout the year in which the American flag is suggested to be flown at half-staff, to find out what these dates are and other information, check out our Flying the Flag at Half-Staff article, right here.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum, a Tribute and Remembrance to the Event
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is run by a non-profit organization whose focus is to cover everything related to the events of September 11th. According to their website, "The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the country’s principal institution concerned with exploring 9/11, documenting its impact, and examining its continuing significance. Honoring those who were killed in the 2001 and 1993 attacks is at the heart of our mission."
The memorial was designed by Israeli-American architect Michael Arad and landscape architect, Peter Walker. They won the right to do so in one of the largest design competitions in history with their work titled, "Reflecting Absence." The competition hadover 5,000 entries from 49 U.S. states and 63 countries, out of over 13,000 registrants from all 50 United States and 94 countries. People from all over the world would vie to have their work on display where the Twin Towers once stood.
Arad's design features two square pools, just under an acre in size in the footprints of where the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center once stood. The pools feature a 30ft drop followed by another 20ft drop into a smaller, central area that is unseen, known as, "the void." The pools contain within them some of the largest man-made waterfalls in all of North America. Surrounding the pools are the names of the 2,983 names engraved in bronze of the victims of both the 2001 and 1993 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. This design was made as a way according to the architect to have "absence made visible." To where water in itself is flowing into the voids, it remains empty, never to be filled. While a fairly dark and solemn concept, the pools are often used as a place for peace and reflection with the sound of falling water providing a space of comfort away from the typical hustle and bustle of the city.
Peter Walker's contribution adds to the reflective theme of the memorial with over 400 swamp white oak trees planted within the area. These trees are indigenous to the areas that were affected by these events and give the space a natural feel and look.
There is also a lone Callery pear tree that dons the area known as the "Survivor Tree." A symbol of endurance and strength, the tree was severely damaged at Ground Zero and brought back to life by Members of the New York City Parks and Recreation Department. It has been on site since 2010.
Anyone who wishes to visit Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial is free to do so. It is open to the public for free, from 10 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST.
The museum offers the chance for visitors to learn about before, after, and during the events that took place on this day through interactive technology with a host of media, footage, and testimonials. It is located approximately 70ft below the surface. With over 110k square feet of space filled with rotating galleries and tons of exhibitions, there is a lot to explore. They have over 74k pieces of artifacts from the victims, first responders, and others involved in a permanent onsite collection with everything from guitar picks, matchbooks, IDs, bank cards along with shirts and patches. The museum also features steel from the World Trade Center that was recovered from the street below and even a firetruck from the Fire Department of New York that was heavily damaged during one of the building's collapse.
Unlike the memorial, the museum does require a purchase but you can get your tickets and schedule a tour to visit byclicking here. The museum is open 6 days a week. They are closed on Tuesdays.
How to get involved in your Community
If leaving to visit NYC is too challenging to do, don't worry, there are still things you can do in your own community to honor those who were involved with 9/11. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum Organization offers some ideas right here on their webpage, A Guide to Honoring 9/11 in Your Community. Here, there are suggestions such as joining in on a moment of silence during the commemoration ceremony, participating in stair climbs, taking part in the 9/11 Heroes Run, and volunteering.
And while not directly correlated with 9/11, there is always something that can be done to make your community better. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization is always in need of a helping hand whether this be through volunteering or through donation. You can find out how to volunteer in your community with your local VFW, here and or donate right from your mobile phone or computer, here.
You can also reach out to your local police and fire department and see if there are any events going on in your area or if there is a way to donate.
How to Donate
To donate to the 9/11 Memorial Museum via The Never Forget Fund, You can do so by going toneverforget.org. The main goal of this fund is to educate the next generation on 9/11.
What does 9/11 Never Forget mean?
9/11 is representative of the date September 11th, 2001 when terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and crashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Never forget means to keep the events that happened on this day at the forefront and in our minds.
Is there a day to remember 9/11? Anniversary?
Typically the day to remember 9/11 is on the anniversary of Patriot's Day which is September 11th each year. Although it can be remembered on any day.
How many years ago was 9/11? What year was 911 in New York?
As of writing this article on September 5th, 2023, 9/11 was just under 22 years ago, as the year was 2001.