Remember, wave your flag Sunday in memory of 9/11

Published 1:26 pm Wednesday, September 7, 2022

The national nonprofit Wreaths Across America is asking all Americans to join them in waving the American flag in their communities Sunday, which marks the 21st anniversary of 9/11.

On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, five hijackers took control of American Airlines Flight 11 and flew it into the heart of New York City and the northern facade of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Five other highjackers flew United Airlines Flight 175 in the southern facade of the South Tower.

Another five hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the western facade of the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., and less than an hour later, four hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 93 into a field in Stoneycreek Township near Sharksville, Pa.

Members of the WAA family, including staff, volunteers, Gold Star and Blue Star Families, and veterans, will join to share in the patriotic act of waving the flag, and sharing the stories of those who raised their hand to serve following the events of that fateful day. The flag waving will start at 8:46 a.m., the time of the first attack on the World Trade Center.

WAA waves the American Flag every Tuesday morning between 9-10 a.m. ET and encourages the public to join them. Each week, messages of unity and remembrance are shared and the legacy of the “Freeport Flag Ladies” — who took to the Hill in Freeport on 9/11/01 following the events of that morning to hoist the flag and share a message of strength — lives on as it did each week for 18 years. After they retired on September 11, 2019, WAA took over the tradition and continues the weekly flag waving along US Route 1 in Jonesboro, Maine.

“Each Tuesday, we are joined by dozens of members of the local community and curious people stopping to be part of something meaningful,” said Karen Worcester, Executive Director, Wreaths Across America. “I hope people will join us this year, both on the anniversary of 9/11, as well as each Tuesday moving forward. This flag waving has taken on new meaning for us all and given a spark of hope for unity and patriotism during this difficult time in our country.”