The 9/11 Remembrance Flag - Dear Flag Lady

First let me say that the 9/11 flag is beautiful. The first time I saw it was when I went to visit ground zero. I work for American Airlines and really took the attack, as an attack both to America, and my family. The American Airlines family. I have been searching for this flag ever since and finally someone wrote me and told me I could order it online at your site. So thank you for that. I just wanted to write and let you know that I will fly it proudly each and everyday to show the world my pride in both being an American (first and foremost), and as a very proud American Airlines employee.

Are you aware that there is another "9-11 flag" out there trying to become the "official" flag of 9-11. Their website actually has a petition to make it so. I am also aware of another "9-11 flag" in Virginia and the General Assembly voted it the official symbol for 9-11 in that state.

Have you any plans to "officialize" the 9-11 Remembrance Flag? Personally, your flag is the only 9-11 flag that depicts all aspects of that day in such a simple, yet meaningful way. Without any descriptive materials, the 9-11 Remembrance Flag can be understood by everyone, even a child. I don't see that in any of the other 9-11 flags out there.
Thanks, Karen

First let me say "Thank you" for your kind words regarding the 9-11 Remembrance Flag. To be honest with you, I had considered the process of "officializing" the flag, but something just didn't feel right about doing that. I had to ask myself "Why?". My ultimate mission for the flag is not about becoming the best or most popular flag: It's about honoring & remembering the thousands of loved ones who perished under such horrific circumstances; It's about remembering the families that were affected in such a hopeless situation; It's about honoring and praying for the survivors, rescue workers, and witnesses of that tragic day. Their lives will never be the same. The images are forever etched in their minds. They don't need a flag to remember; They will NEVER forget… But, as a country, a nation, a family, we can use the 9-11 Remembrance Flag to honor and remember these people.

After 9-11-01, thousands of people reached out to the grieving families and gave money, gifts, prayers; They didn't just grieve for the families, they grieved with the families. The 9-11 Remembrance Flag was a result of my grief. I prayed (like thousands of others) for a way to reach out and God answered my prayer with the vision of this flag. That's all the OFFICIAL I need! I'm so honored to have been given the opportunity to touch the lives of so many through this flag. But it isn't me, it's God in me. He should get the credit.

In conclusion, I believe the 9-11 Remembrance Flag is already an official flag. Thousands of families who lost loved ones on 9-11-01 have requested and received this flag. They are the ones who matter when it comes to the validity of this flag. Whether or not it becomes a national flag or symbol doesn't really matter. What matters is that thousands of 9-11 Remembrance Flags are flying all over America (and several countries) honoring and remembering the heroes of 9-11-01. That's my "official" mission.

Dear Flag Lady

While I think your mission is admirable, I have a hard time believing your dream. The fact that you own a flag company seems too coincidental with the dream you had only a week after the attacks on our country. I'm not questioning your integrity, but as a life long New Yorker until Jan. 2002 I find your story hard to believe. I hope your path is a chosen one and for all the right reasons.
God Bless.. ?

Dear reader, Thank you for taking the time to visit my website.
I have no control over what others believe, all I can do is tell my story. I believe God gave me the dream BECAUSE I had a flag company. He knew I would be able to get the job done. I think the blessings that have arose from this flag tell the story. We have been able to donate hundreds of flags to the families of 9/11 & I have been so blessed to be able to share my faith with them as a result. After all, that is the reason I'm doing this. I'm sure, had I not been obedient to God & carried out this mission, I would not have had the opportunity to touch so many lives. My life, in exchange, will never be the same. I have grown so much (spiritually) over this past year, and have come to realize that if we pray & obey, God will give us amazing power through Him. I know in my heart that this is the work of God & I will never deny that. The moment I do, the blessings will stop.
May our Lord bless you with the wisdom, power, & peace that only He can give.

I am an EMT of a local First Aid Squad and would like to order a lot of the decals to put on the Ambulances and give to each member of the Squad. I would like to order about (50) decals and need to know what the price would be so I can take this information to a general membership meeting for approval to order. Plus I will ask to be able to order a flag also, but need to know if it can fly beneath the American Flag like the POW-MIA flag can. Awaiting your response.

Sincerely,
Robert
NREMT/NJEMT-B/NJFF1

Robert, it is certainly appropriate to fly the Remembrance Flag under the American flag. Hundreds of fire stations, other government buildings, businesses and homes are flying the Remembrance Flag under "Old Glory". If you have any hesitations, just read some of the letters from the families who lost loved ones on 9-11-01. They are the ones who have made this flag the "official " flag for 9-11.
Thank you for your support & God bless all of you, Gwen

My next door neighbor displays your flag in honor of his wife killed at the WTC; he referred me to your website. I fly for a major airline and am interested in getting decals for all of our pilots to put on their flight cases. Further, I would like to contact the other pilot groups with the goal of having this decal on the flight cases of EVERY airline pilot.

I must live in the back woods, because tonight was the first time I had heard of the FLAG. I am so proud of you, and I bet Granny Wells is beaming with pride. You have done what everyone else just sits around and talks about. I just can't express in words how you have touched me. You have done a wonderful thing for others without a single thought for yourself, (and I can tell everyone that my cousin is the one who did this great thing for our country).

We used to be just a family who got together every once in a while, and now you have made that family grow. We are all Americans and need to stand together as one. You are our "Betsy Ross" of the 21st century. Thank you for paving the way.
'GOD BLESS AMERICA'.

One night, while surfing the web, I came across this letter. All I know is that a 5th grader named Jessie from Santee, CA. wrote it to President Bush. I would like this fifth grader to know that his/her desire for a 9/11 flag has come to be: A flag for 9-11

I would like to first mention that I have read all your posted letters
and we already have the ordered a flag through a friend. I feel it is wonderful and I hope many fly this flag high. Far too many people have gone back to living life as before, forgetting the horrors that happened and the fact it can and may happen again. My stomach turns every time I hear people say the government knew.

I think people need to be reminded of the saying "United We Stand," As we have become a Nation of selfish people, full of ignorance and lacking in compassion.
9-11 gave us a ray of hope! A false sense security. It was wonderful to see people pull together, all for the same purpose, All walks of life actually showing we are created equal. I look at people now and I could cry... to see the useless blaming, the name calling.

What happened could not have been stopped. We know many FEMA workers, many Government workers, which is actually why I started this letter. I did not mean to ramble. The point of my writing is A lot of the letters I read seem to leave out the PAPD, a group of outstanding people! The first to respond. I also would like to remind people to thank the many volunteers who were not at ground zero everyday searching but who witnessed the same things that ground Zero workers witnessed.

To all the people who first responded not knowing what they were responding to!
The ones who held family members hands as they went into Ground Zero for the first time! The everyday human who left their offices to organize the Ambulances, The triage units, to get the water and supplies to help search! The ones who did not sleep for days on end to make sure all the equipment that was needed was there!

They are survivors of a different kind. They may not have dug in the dirt or moved the rubble, but they were there for weeks on end to keep the workers going!
They were the people who set up, volunteered at the Family Assistance Centers
The men and woman who tried to lesson the hurt! To help in the wait, to hold hands and give strength and love. To look in the faces of small children with tears in their eyes, on a daily basis. Yet these people could never cry, except in private. These People never had a chance to scream and ask why, or any of the other grieving processes people take. They had to be strong, 24/7, for weeks and for some, months on end! They went from a 8:00 job on September 11th, to witness the horrors first hand, they walked the streets of ground zero moments after it all happened, They seen unbelievable things that nothing could ever have prepared them for. The nightmares they have are real. The loss they feel is real. They work with the Families everyday and try to keep spirits high... Yet they go unmentioned!

Thank you all...
To everyone, not just the policemen, firemen, and PAPD. To all who gave their lives, some heroes did not perish that day, but will never be the same again. God bless you all! Stay strong!

I just wanted to send an email to say thank you so much for the GREAT
customer service on my recent order for a 4X6 remembrance flag. I placed my order on 8/12 and received it today, 8/15.....very impressed.

I was even MORE impressed with the handwritten note from Gwen thanking me
and telling me more than 500 flags have been donated to date. I do appreciate the extra decals that I've since shared with co-workers and friends.

Keep up the good work......nice to know fine people like you are making a BIG difference to us Americans in these trying times.

Deana, Eatontown, NJ

I first heard about the Remembrance Flag when the PAPD's WTC Memorial was here in Minnesota over the 4th of July holiday. Lt. Gene Smith told me all about you and the flag you had designed. In fact, I believe he told me about it and you at least twice and maybe three times. I got the feeling he was really impressed! He gave me one of the stickers, along with the explanation of the symbolism, which I was so pleased to have. Anyway, two weeks later, I went to New York and found this memorial about a block north of the World Trade Center site on Barclay St. (I believe).

I thought you might like to see it, especially since your flag is so prominent. (I hope you are able to view the attached photo - if not please let me know). It's quite disappointing how the memorials around the site have vanished - I was surprised to find this one. When I was there in November, they were everywhere - little spontaneous ones, even, like a few candles and flowers on a window sill which I saw right in this same area as this. I also saw one of your flag stickers outside of the Engine 10 / Ladder 10 firehouse on Liberty St. just across from the site. I didn't get a photo of that, though I really thought that I did. I was keeping my eyes open, now that I knew the story.

I really like your design. Because I was in New York on Sept 11 on a business trip and saw the Towers burn and collapse, what happened affected me personally and it's really comforting to know that as much horror and pain it has caused, it's also inspired people like you to focus on the goodness that continues to be a result of it. I think you've captured that very well. I created something similar for my Christmas cards last year - a snowflake (because the ash looked like snow) with a Pentagon, airplane, and the Towers (repeated 6 times because it's a snowflake) within a circle. So your flag really speaks to me. The stars on the towers are especially haunting. I'll be back to order a flag as soon as I figure out which size would be best. In the meantime, Love and peace to you, Lisa

I would like to send you all my support, I'm writing from Argentina and I have been in your country several times, and I'm so proud of you because you are a really great nation and I was so sad that day and I would like to tell you that yesterday I put an American flag in my house to support you. Finally I would like to tell you that you must to go on and never fall down because your country IS A GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.
Sincerely, Erica.

Erica, Thank you for all your support, It means a lot to all the families. It's so great to know that people all over the world are reaching out to America. Your comforting words DO make a difference in so many lives. Thanks again, Gwen

Dear Flag Lady :
I'd love your opinion on the allegations that the Whitehouse knew about the 9/11 attacks that day.

Response:
Personally, I'm sure the Whitehouse and those who are paid to protect us knew that terrorists were planning something, but we've known that for decades. To pinpoint an exact time and place would fall short of a miracle. If anyone really knew what the plan was that September Day, I can't imagine them just sitting back & letting it happen. I'm sure Bush would have been somewhere other that an elementary school reading to kids.
As everything in life, We learn from the past. And boy have we! I personally know of many people in the towers who continued to work at their desks, instead of leaving, believing that it was nothing. The people who survived and the people who witnessed the tragedy would never stay in a building NOW if anything suspicious happened.

I'm just so grieved that we, once again, are being divided as a country over something that we cannot change. I wish the blame would stay where it belongs... On the evil barbarians who carried out the acts. That's where our outrage should be focused on.

The wounds are still so fresh for the 9/11 families, yet once again they're being thrown into such sensitive situations. If the media and all those involved in the allegation really cared for the families of 9/11, how can they open wounds over & over again (without all the facts) knowing what emotional impact it will have on the families. Maybe I'm missing something.

I gather from some mentions on your website that you support
September's Mission.

Please understand that there are some of us who think that stopping September's Mission from getting what they and Al-Qaida want is the only way the dead can truly be honored. Unless the World Trade Center Towers are rebuilt to at least
their former height,we are not letting the dead rest in peace; we are leaving them on a battlefield and refusing to retake it from the enemy.

The killers wanted to destroy the symbols of American pride, to "cut us down to size"...leaving a park that might as well say "THIS LAND CLEARED BY ORDER OF OSAMA BIN LADEN" outside is giving the killers what they want,it is not honoring the dead. Only Twin Towers fully rebuilt can send the message that we will not give an inch. Empty land or smaller buildings show that America has surrendered.

There are ways to support survivors that don't contribute to disgracing the nation...they're what my family has supported, and will continue to support.

-=-=-
The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again,
at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.

Thank you for your opinion. Have you asked ALL the families of the victims what they want? If it were up to me, I'd let them, and them only, come up with a decision on what should be done. But, we all know that's not going to happen. Even if it did, you'd get a hundred different ideas. I think What Bin Laden and his Cronies are hoping for is the unity among Americans to go away. Is the rebuilding of towers going to divide us? I sure hope not. What really matters is that families will NEVER see their loved ones again, and we must focus on NEVER allowing a tragedy such as this to ever happen again! Frankly, I don't care what happens at Ground Zero, as long as the MAJORITY of the families have some sense of peace about the burial site's future.

It is impossible to please everyone in a situation such as this one, so we must do what Americans have done in the past.... Compromise. After all, isn't that what democracy is all about? We should be focusing all our energy on building a strong future for our children, not on rebuilding towers to prove to someone that we can do it. I'm sure Bin Laden KNOWS that we're capable of building higher and stronger towers, what he doesn't know, is that we serve a REAL God, and our faith is stronger than anything he could ever destroy!

In conclusion, all I can say about the rebuilding issue is this: I didn't lose a family member that day, Monica did. Her passion to build a memorial represents many. And for that, I must respect her opinion, as I do yours. Bin Laden didn't respect opinions; That's why we're in the mess we're in today... Intolerance ... it brings out the worst in people. I say, let's focus on the things that really matter; the things that can't be destroyed. Faith, Hope, Love. No one can take that away.
May God bless you and give you the peace and love that only He can give.

Dear Flag Lady:
I read about you on a flag buff mailing list, including a link to your home page. I must say it's a good flag design, but it would have been even better without the "God bless America". Flags and letters is not a good combination. I will probably order a flag later on.

Well, the "God Bless America" is very significant in that after the tragedy everyone, I mean everyone, had that slogan posted on billboards, signs, cars,etc. So, It is part of the events that took place that week. Personally, God is the most important thing in my life, so I suppose it had to go on there, since I designed it. Thanks again, for taking an interest.

I would like to purchase a 3x5 Remembrance Flag to hang with my American Flag for all to see. It is sad to see so many people return to the same old frame of mind they had before September 11th. People aren't as nice and helpful to each other, the same "politics as usual" has returned to Capitol Hill, and too many people have stopped flying Old Glory.

I am proud to say that in MY country, people can't wait to lend a hand, are smarter for the wear about "politics as usual", and fly Old Glory as high and far as humanly possible. Just as when we say "I love you" to our children, those words aren't enough to show our pain, sorrow, shock, disbelief, strength, unity and fortitude all at the same time. Thank you for giving us another way of saying "I love you" to our country and the ones we've all lost.
God Bless America.
Robert Allen (Former US Army Cavalry Trooper)

I was very moved when I saw your flag on the news the other day...It's beautiful in every sense...emotionally, mentally, patriotically, everything! I would like to know if your flag will be available in other smaller sizes, like those to put on one's car, or on a wooden stick to display in the garden?

Presently we have only 2'x3', 3'x5', 4'x6' and 4"x5" car back window stickers. We have considered getting small flags on a stick but they want an arm and a leg for them. Maybe, in the near future we will be able to get them.
Thanks for your inquiry

I wanna take the opportunity to pay my respects to all the people who lost their lives on 9/11 and who became heroes. My name is Kathryn and I am 23 years old and from Germany. I wrote these poems as a tribute to the extraordinary spirit of America! I want you to know that our nation stands by your side forever, as today marks the seven-months anniversary of the attacks on America, I want you to know that not a day goes by that I have not thought about the victims of that day! God Bless America and may those people rest in peace.

They once stood proud and tall,
in an instant destroyed by an act of war,
thousands of people worked in them,
now they are buried in them.
I watch in disbelief as they fall,
and many people call,
their loved ones on the phone,
hoping that they reach them at home.
Dust covers the streets,
and people try to search for,
survivors under the debris.
It's more than I can take,
and my heart breaks,
as I watch so many people die,
I start to cry.
Firefighters and policemen working past exhaustion,
and there has to be caution,
for future terrorist attacks,
that might happen.

Imagine your husband on the phone,
telling you he can't make it home,
he is trapped on the 90th floor,
and won't be here no more.
Stay calm, don't worry,
tell all of my family in a hurry,
I love them all,
sorry I didn't make a call.
Remember all the good times we had,
and please don't be sad,
I know we meet again,
when the years have come and gone,
so please try again,
to be strong.

The eleventh of September
a date that the world will always remember
when the unthinkable happened
and so many lives where shattered.
I watched the horror on TV
two planes have hit the WTC.
This cannot be true I think
and I still cannot think.
Who could do such things
I ask myself
I have no answer
I need to help.
Realize I am too far away
to help rescuers who are brave.
Tears run down my face,
and I watch in disgrace
as the WTC falls
and so many do last minute calls.
To everyone who lost someone
we will never forget 9 1 1.
Rest in peace
and you'll be free.
Although six months have now passed,
I want you to know,
my memory will last.

Thank you for your beautiful tribute. It's nice to know that people from all over the world are praying and supporting the families who have been affected by 9/11/01. Your special tribute will certainly touch many lives and help in the healing process.

Three days ago I received a call from a very nice magazine reporter, in reference to the Remembrance Flag, which is now at ground Zero, The Port Authority Memorial, the Pentagon, dozens of police and fire stations, and countless homes of the families who lost a loved one on 9/11. At first, I was honored to receive the call because I and several other people had invested countless hours working on this mission to honor the thousands of survivors and victims who lost their lives that dreadful September day. Unfortunately, the conversation ended with the open invitation to call when the story got "bigger". Somehow that bothered me; I wasn't sure why at the time, but it really bothered me. Then I saw the 9/11 special on the CBS last night and it became very clear to me ...

All the wonderful rescue workers have been getting an enormous outpouring of support from the community, the press, the political figures, each other; as they should. They made (and continue to make ) the ultimate sacrifice to save lives. They deserve every ounce of recognition that they are getting. But, thousands of lives were destroyed that day... children without fathers or mothers, siblings without brothers or sisters, mothers and fathers without children, an expecting mother... both gone. Thousands of stories, THOUSANDS!
Well, this Remembrance Flag isn't "big" yet. Not to People Magazine or Oprah, or Newsweek, or the New York Times. But what this flag has done is bigger than any magazine, newspaper, or TV show. This flag made a difference in the life of a wife of a small child, who'll never see her husband again. This flag became a personal memorial to a sister who lost her brother, sister-in-law, and their seven month unborn child. This flag represents the thousands of "little" lives who were very big to a family ... somewhere out there.

I'm not angry at the reporter for her comment about the story not being big enough, I'm thankful. Feelings began to stir up in me that I haven't felt since the week of the 9/11 tragedy. The Remembrance Flag isn't about me. It 's about ordinary people being remembered in an extraordinary way. The thousands of heroes lost that September day should never be forgotten. And that's why we have the Remembrance Flag. We must never forget!

I noticed your Remembrance Flag in the Port Authority Command Post at Ground
Zero and would like permission to display the flag in our memorial exhibit, "The Port Authority NY&NJ Police Traveling Memorial." If it is OK, I will order a flag, thank you.

I'd be honored! I will send you bumper stickers along with the flag. Thank you for including the Remembrance Flag in your special memorial. God bless y'all !

I must say it certainly is a bold and clean design, however...
You have clearly depicted NY with the towers and Washington with the Pentagon but your flag in it's design and explanation completely leaves out the sacrifice of the men and women aboard flight 93. Why is that? What were you thinking? Other than having the four stars, one for each airplane, the field in Pennsylvania is left out of the design.

I don't understand how such an important part of the design/symbol could have been left out of the "whole picture." What does that say to the families of Flt. 93? They are not important enough to be symbolized?

Concerned citizen
RMA
in Miami, FL

Thank you for your concern regarding the people on flight 93. I feel like we have given just as much explanation to the brave souls on flight 93 as we have to all the others. With each flag, we provide a flyer with the explanation of the symbolism depicted in the flag. I have provided that for you below and have made bold the flight 93 explanation. The field in PA isn't depicted in the flag because no one on the field was lost...only the brave people on the plane. I'm sorry if it isn't enough for you, but I cannot & will not change the design, because it was the vision I had days after 9-11-01 & I truly believe it was inspired by God...So to change it, would just not be right.

- The red background of the flag symbolizes the lost lives and bloodshed of our fellow Americans...past, present and future

- The pentagon and two rectangles represent three of the most recognized structures ever built on US soil. The Twin Towers may be out of our sight, but never out of our minds.

- The stars symbolize the airplanes that were needlessly sacrificed that September morning. The star outside the pentagon represents the brave passengers who diverted the plane in Shanksville, PA, saving countless others.

- The circle around the pentagon represents the unity that occurred after the tragedy. Instead of fear and helplessness, Americans united together to comfort grieving hearts and restore shattered dreams.

- The “GOD BLESS AMERICA” slogan has been adopted to represent the hope and faith of our nation...a reminder to the world that evil may pierce our hearts, but God’s love will permeate our souls.