The Story Behind the Official 9/11 Memorial Flag

by Maria Coffey

Originally commissioned by the State of New York and hand sewn by Gettysburg Flag Works for the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the official New York State September 11^th Memorial Flag honors those who lost their lives that day, and remains a symbol of our Nation’s resilience in the face of tragedy.

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Flag Design

Mock-ups of the flag were provided to Gettysburg Flag Works by the New York State Office of General Services in August 2011. The design consisted of a star with circles around it and two columns – one horizontal and one vertical.

The current design, which was a collaboration between the State office and Gettysburg Flag Works, includes 40 yellow stars for the victims on board United Flight 93, arranged in the shape of the Pentagon, with two vertical columns representing the Twin Towers. The flag’s design also includes the words, ‘We Remember’ – a promise to never forget the faces, stories and heroes of that day, and a reminder to pass those memories onto future generations.

Flag Production

With less than a month until the 10-year anniversary and the dedication ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Gettysburg Flag Works was tasked with creating a 5×8 foot single-sided custom applique flag with gold fringe, as well as an 8×12 foot double-sided applique flag, and 10,000 4×6” stick flags.

As with all custom applique flags, each detail or element on the original 9/11 memorial flag is a separate piece of fabric, which is hand sewn onto the background of the flag. Although time-consuming, the process results in a very high-quality flag that looks a bit like a quilt.

Dedication Ceremony

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled the official New York State September 11th Memorial Flag during a dedication ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City on September 6, 2011.

“The Memorial Flag is meant to serve as a long-lasting symbol of our respect for those who were lost on September 11th and our resilience in the face of tragedy,” Governor Cuomo said.

“This tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks also reminds us of the indomitable spirit of New Yorkers that endured that terrible day and in the years since,” added Joe Daniels, President of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Now on display at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the 9/11 We Remember flag was flown at the entrance to the World Trade Center site to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the attacks. The Governor also signed a proclamation calling for the flag to fly at the State Capitol the week before September 11th.

Flag Replicas

Printed replicas of the original 9/11 memorial flag are sold at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to raise funds for the museum and bolster educational programs. Gettysburg Flag Works is also proud to offer printed replicas of the official 9/11 flag, as well as September 11th grave markers, 9/11 motorcycle flags and many other memorial products.