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September 28, 2004
Tempe pays homage to Sept. 11 victims
Desiree McDonald
Mesa Legend
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Photo by Desiree McDonald Mesa Legend |
| A visitor observes a flag that was made to honor the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The flag consists of individual state flags along with a Statue of Liberty centerpiece that list each person killed in the attacks. |
This year marked the third anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. As people reflect, they realize the emotions they felt that day have not quite faded. That day, Americans learned of true heroes whose names should never be forgotten.
Paul Swenson, the President of the Colonial Flag Company, founded the “Healing Field”. The weekend of the anniversary, 3,046 American flags were placed on the pristine grass of Tempe Town Lake, in honor of the victims of the September 11 attacks. Along with those flags, an additional 1,000 flags were placed on the field, to honor the courageous soldiers killed in Iraq.
The Star Spangled Banner was played softly, creating reverence among the viewers. In the center of the field, a flag over three stories high and over 1,000 square-feet wide was displayed. This flag, designed by native Arizonan, Randy Cooney, is comprised of individual state flags along with a statue of liberty centerpiece listing each person killed in the attacks. The National Unity Flag was signed by the entire U.S. Senate, and was presented in 2002. At the bottom of the flag, the inscription reads: “3046 Lost and 290,000,000 United”.
The idea to construct the flag came to Cooney after he witnessed Congress join hands and sing God Bless America, following the disaster. “In my reflection on that moment of unification, the flag came to mind.”
Many consider volunteering for the “Healing Field” as therapy in of itself.
Originally from New York City, Heather Miller from Coldwell Banker, Kierland Office, spent her weekend near the National Unity Flag.
Miller stated that her sister worked in the World Trade Center, and she has not returned to New York since the attacks. When asked about the National Unity Flag, Miller expressed her sentiments. “If anything, it demonstrates the loss of life for our freedom. I feel that every American who has an opportunity to view the flag should.”
Cooney told the touching story of a blind lady who wept as she ran her hand along the emblems. In moments like this, Americans see they weren’t beaten. Cooney offered this comforting state ment: “In tragedy there is always triumph.”
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