{"id":2414,"date":"2015-08-06T09:01:59","date_gmt":"2015-08-06T13:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/?p=2414"},"modified":"2024-06-13T16:06:08","modified_gmt":"2024-06-13T20:06:08","slug":"iconic-911-flag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/iconic-911-flag\/","title":{"rendered":"Who has iconic 9\/11 flag?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"President<\/a>
President Bush and fire personnel show off the postage stamp with the 9ll flag image<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two years ago, CNN broadcast a documentary titled \u201cThe Flag.\u201d The work of Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein, it traced the story of a missing American flag<\/a>, the one hoisted on 9\/11 by three firemen in a tableau that recalled the flag-raising on Iwo Jima.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat flag is missing?\u201d was the reaction of many startled viewers. As the film explains, the iconic flag disappeared shortly after it was lifted. The banner that appeared at many post-9\/11 events turned out to be a substitute.<\/p>\n

After the documentary recently re-aired, Mr. Tucker agreed to answer some questions, including how the film came to be.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A fireman stands amid rubble with a 911 flag on his helmet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe were brought the story by David Friend at Vanity Fair\u201d magazine, he explained. \u201cHe had written a book called \u2018Watching the World Change\u2019 about the images of 9\/11 and had devoted a chapter to the story of the flag. We sat on it for a few years, and then CNN Films expressed interest in telling the story\u201d for the anniversary of 9\/11<\/a> in 2013.<\/p>\n

Interviewees in the film include Rudy Giuliani, who was mayor of New York City on 9\/11, the then-head of the NYC firemen and military personnel. The film-makers also surfaced possible witnesses to what happened to the banner.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe looked at hundreds of hours of footage and thousands of photographs in an attempt to understand what happened in the aftermath of the attacks,\u201d Mr. Tucker noted. \u201cOf the three firefighters, only Billy Eisengrein would speak to us, and when he did, he really articulated the essence of [the flag]: It\u2019s a symbol.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A man bows his head at a World Trade Center wall at the 911 Museum in New York City. National flags are displayed next to him. (James Breig photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In their research, Tucker continued, \u201cwe found so many incredible stories \u2013 and so many flags.\u201d But not the original one, so its current location remains unknown. The filmmaker said that \u201cwhat was shocking was that it was taken down so fast \u2013 hours after being put up \u2013 and that the \u2018substitute\u2019 flag traveled so far and wide,\u201d including to such events as a prayer service at Yankee Stadium and ceremonies aboard battleships overseas.<\/p>\n

Mr. Tucker cited \u201ctwo prevailing theories\u201d about what happened to the flag. One is that \u201ca high-ranking person on the scene took it.\u201d The other notion is that it \u201cwas taken down to cover a victim. At the site, the firefighters were concerned with rescue and recovery, and there were literally thousands of people down there with very little command and control. We may never know. If it does turn up, it\u2019s easily identifiable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe easiest explanation,\u201d he continued, \u201cis that the flag went up with little fanfare, recovery-and-rescue [efforts] started, and then\u2026there was a shift change before the flag disappeared. The flag was taken by someone who hadn\u2019t witnessed it being put up\u201d and didn\u2019t realize its significance.<\/p>\n

His personal guess is that the 9\/11 flag<\/a> is \u201csitting innocently in a den or office. The person that has it doesn\u2019t know what they have.\u201d He added that, if found, the flag \u201cwould make a fine addition to the 9\/11 museum\u201d in New York City.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s out there\u2026somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two years ago, CNN broadcast a documentary titled \u201cThe Flag.\u201d The work of Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein, it traced the story of a missing American flag, the one hoisted on 9\/11 by three firemen in a tableau that recalled the flag-raising on Iwo Jima. \u201cThat flag is missing?\u201d was the reaction of many startled… continue<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[116,10,209],"class_list":["post-2414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-lessons","tag-911-flag","tag-american-flag","tag-september-11"],"yoast_head":"\n9\/11 flag<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Two years ago, CNN broadcast a documentary titled \u201cThe Flag.\u201d It traced the story of a missing American flag, the one hoisted on 9\/11 by three firemen.\" 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