Posted on 11/26/2001 8:20:05 PM PST by areafiftyone
Awash with messages of anguish, inspiration and patriotism, an American flag that flew at Ground Zero is being sent to troops in Afghanistan as a reminder of why they are fighting.
"For my sons." ... "God bless and be safe." ... "Pay back time," say messages penned on the red and white stripes by victims' relatives and Ground Zero workers. The stars are reserved for the names of the dead.
The flag is being sent by courier this week to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Members of the unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., helped seize an airstrip in southern Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Monday. President Bush said the troops would also help hunt down terrorists linked to the Sept. 11 attacks against the United States.
Maj. David C. Andersen, director of the Marine Corps' public affairs office in New York, said he believes the troops will treasure the flag.
"It's a piece of cloth that has become personal," Andersen said. "I think it's going to bring a little piece of lower Manhattan, of Ground Zero, to Marines who have never been here."
The flag's story began two weeks after the terrorist attacks when it was draped over one of the surviving buildings near the World Trade Center under a giant banner reading, "United We Stand."
About a month later, it was taken to a command center occupied by members of the New York Police Department's emergency services unit.
That's where the flag became a memorial cloth.
No one knows who wrote the first message. The 12-by-18 flag is now covered with names, statements, prayers and poems, most written in thick black marker by victims' relatives, police, federal investigators and Red Cross workers.
Some of the messages are patriotic: "United we stand, united we fight." ... "In God and country we must trust." ... "These colors don't run."
Others focus on the victims: "I will always miss my son Rodney." ... "We will never forget your sacrifice." ... "Our memories will never fade."
One message refers to two brothers killed on Sept. 11 -- firefighter John Vigiano and police Detective Joseph Vigiano.
"For my sons ... Joe and John Vigiano. They gave their lives doing what they loved -- helping others," the unsigned note reads.
Some of the messages are directed at the military troops. "Unleash hell boys." ... "Be safe and do us proud."
Others are aimed at the terrorists themselves: "May the last breath you take be spent looking at this flag." ... "Sleep with one eye open."
The blue field containing the stars was reserved for victims. Each of the 23 New York police officers lost in the attacks has a star with his name written inside, along with the 17 sailors who died in the October 2000 terrorist attacks in Yemen on the USS Cole.
The decision to give the flag to the Marines was made because three members of the emergency services unit who died on Sept. 11 were former Marines. Eventually, Andersen expects the flag to make its way back to New York City to be housed in a museum with other artifacts connected to the trade center attacks.
Andersen said he has received many questions about whether it is proper to write on an American flag.
"It's all about honor. It's all about respect," Andersen said. "That makes it absolutely the perfect thing to do."
This was written on that Flag by a Marine whose brother was a New York City cop who died on Sept. 11.
You fly that flag my brothers. Fly it in memory of those who died on Sept. 11, as well as in memory of my brothers who died in Beruit in 1983. If anyone over there resists, kill them.
When you get home, look me up and dinner and beer will be on me. Semper Fi.
L
Let's roll this is no longer just patriotic its personal and now we will show the world that the Marines are the baddest mothers on the planet Bottom Line!
Let's roll this is no longer just patriotic its personal and now we will show the world that the Marines are the baddest mothers on the planet Bottom Line!
Yeah, know the feeling, but
WE WILL NOT Tire
WE WILL NOT Falter
WE WILL NOT FAIL
LET'S ROLL!!!!!!!
God Bless AMERICA
I am crying , one of our nephews is one of the firemen in N.Y. and all of my husbands family live back there.
This thread should be seen by as many people as possible. Thank you.
Thank you.
"Never place things on the flag or attach marks, insignias, letters, words, figures, designs, pictures, or drawings"
Too me it would have had the same power as a symbol without all the extra stuff. I was touched at first, then I thought it was a little tacky and presumptuous for the first person to start writing on it with a big black marker. Even if writing is deemed OK they could have taken a bunch of other Fire and Police station flags and had thousands write messages for the military to fly. That would have been just as touching and not marked up the most famous flag since Iwo Jima.
Now that this thread is in your hands, it will be seen by ALL! THANK YOU and Yatch, for all of your dedicated work. I know, I know, "labors of love."
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