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American flag recovered from the World Trade Center

American History Museum

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    Object Details

    Description

    Description: This badly damaged American flag was found by a recovery worker in the World Trade Center debris at the Staten Island recovery site.
    Context: The dominant symbol to emerge from the September 11 tragedy was the American flag. Raised over the World Trade Center ruins and hung from the damaged Pentagon, the flag became a powerful symbol of patriotism, survival, and resilience. Many Americans, who at one time had rejected overt displays of patriotism, returned to flying the flag at home, at work, even from their cars. The shared symbolism of the meaning of the flag helped unite Americans in a time of crisis. Only a few American flags from the World Trade Center survived the attacks of September 11, 2001.

    Location

    Currently not on view

    associated date

    2002 - 09 through 2006

    ID Number

    2003.0007.01

    accession number

    2003.0007

    catalog number

    2003.0007.01

    Object Name

    Flag

    Physical Description

    synthetic (overall material)

    Measurements

    overall: 109 cm x 71 cm; 42 15/16 in x 27 15/16 in
    overall (on board): 29 in x 45 in x 1 in; 73.66 cm x 114.3 cm x 2.54 cm

    recovery site

    United States: New York, Fresh Kills

    recovered

    United States: New York, Manhattan, World Trade Center

    See more items in

    Military and Society: Armed Forces History, 9/11
    September 11

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    associated subject

    September 11 Terrorist Attacks

    related event

    September 11th Attacks
    Attack on the World Trade Center

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-539f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_1193846

    Discover More

    American flag whirligig

    Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue

    Facts about the United States Flag

    Facts about the Star-Spangled Banner

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