The Mystery Of The Missing 9/11 Flag Is Solved
September 09, 2016
Returned: The Missing Ground Zero Flag
A picture of three firefighters raising the American flag amidst the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, became a beautiful symbol of hope. However, the flag -- now called the Ground Zero flag -- went missing soon thereafter. Its whereabouts remained a mystery for well over a decade. But miraculously, the missing flag is now back where it should be!
A Light In The Darkness
The original Ground Zero flag came off of a yacht docked in lower Manhattan. Then, in the wake of destruction caused by the attacks, three firefighters hoisted it over the remains of the World Trade Center.
Tom Franklin, a photographer for the New Jersey newspaper, The Bergen Record, is the one who captured the now-famous picture.
"The symbolism of what they did in raising that flag resonates with people," he said.
[caption id="attachment_31185" align="aligncenter" width="634"] Credit: Reuters[/caption]But video footage of the area taken just five hours after the photograph shows the flag missing from the flagpole.
RELATED: Police replace the American flag for a WWII veteran's widow after hers is stolen
A Cover-Up?
The disappearance of the Ground Zero flag was kept quiet for quite some time. In fact, a larger sized flag secretly replaced it at various 9/11 memorial events.
It remains a mystery as to how the original flag went missing. But thankfully, soon after a television episode of Brad Meltzer's Lost History on The History Channel highlighted this strange case, the original Ground Zero flag was returned!
WATCH: Mystery of the Missing 9/11 Flag is Solved
What Once Was Lost Now Is Found
Shortly after the episode aired, an anonymous man known only as "Brian" showed up at a fire station in Everett, Washington to turn in the missing artifact. Brian identified himself as a Marine who had served in Iraq. He claims a widow of a victim from the 9/11 attacks had the flag first. She reportedly gave the flag to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who in turn gave it to Brian on Veterans Day in 2007.
[caption id="attachment_31186" align="alignnone" width="295"] A sketch of "Brian," the man who returned the missing flag Credit: Everett Police Department[/caption]Brian had seen Brad Meltzer's episode about the disappearance of the Ground Zero flag. And after watching the show, he felt compelled to return it.
RELATED: A lost camera with wedding pictures on it is returned to a widowed bride
From there, Everett investigators thoroughly examined the flag, to ensure it wasn't a phony.
[caption id="attachment_31187" align="aligncenter" width="625"] A forensic report done on the returned flag in order to confirm it's authenticity Credit: NBC News[/caption]Specialists, files from the original photograph, and The History Channel helped to confirm the flag's authenticity.
"The dust and debris that was on that flag was consistent with dust and debris at Ground Zero," Everett Fire Chief Dan Templeman said.
And once its authenticity was verified, the Ground Zero flag was turned over to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Now, after well over a decade of missing, it's a true blessing to see such a beacon of hope returned to its rightful place near Ground Zero.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
LISTEN: A piece of rubble from 9/11 is uncovered with a Bible verse fused to it!
h/t: USA Today
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
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