Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Honor Guard member Senior Airman Michael Jones places a stitch in the National 9/11 Flag at a flag stitching ceremony held at the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall in Tucson, Ariz., July 8. The National 9/11 Flag Tour is a grassroots effort to repair the 30-foot flag that hung across from the Twin Towers and was damaged during the attacks on Sept. 11. Retired flags from across the 50 states are being used in the restoration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Brian Hastings, 355th Fighter Wing vice commander, places a stitch in the National 9/11 Flag at a flag stitching ceremony held at the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall in Tucson, Ariz., July 8. The National 9/11 Flag Tour is a grassroots effort to repair the 30-foot flag that hung across from the Twin Towers and was damaged during the Sept. 11 attacks. Retired flags from across the 50 states are being used in the restoration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Russell Martin)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Steven Whalen, 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, signs the guestbook at the flag stitching ceremony held at the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall in Tucson, Ariz., July 8. The National 9/11 Flag Tour is a grassroots effort to repair the 30-foot flag that hung across from the Twin Towers and was damaged during the attacks on Sept. 11. Retired flags from across the 50 states are being used in the restoration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook)

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Placards representing each flag sewn into the original were displayed for attendees at the flag stitching ceremony held at the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall in Tucson, Ariz., July 8. The National 9/11 Flag Tour is a grassroots effort to repair the 30-foot flag that hung across from the Twin Towers and was damaged during the attacks on Sept. 11. Retired flags from across the 50 states are being used in the restoration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook)

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Airmen make a stitch in history

Published July 14, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Saphfire D. Cook
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The National 9/11 Flag Tour brought its flag to the University of Arizona's Centennial Hall July 8. Members of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., and citizens of Tucson were welcome to come out and participate in the flag stitching ceremonies.

The National 9/11 Flag Tour is a campaign to restore the 30-foot flag that hung opposite the Twin Towers in New York City and was damaged after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The restoration was first began by tornado survivors in Greensburg, Kan., and is continuing across the 50 states.

The flag was heralded into Centennial Hall on the notes of bagpipes and the staccatos of snare drums. The flag was carried through the doors and up to the stage by firefighters and police officers.

"Arizona was one of the many states that came to New York's aid during 9/11," said Dan Rowan, who was with the NYC Fire Department for more than 20 years. He was a crisis responder at the time of the Twin Tower attacks and is now a Marana, Ariz., police officer. "So it was phenomenal for the tour to come here and give Arizona a chance to be a part of history."

Attendees formed an eclectic line of uniformed military personnel, civilians and law enforcement officials -- all waiting for their chance to make a stitch in history.

"We just found out about the ceremony this morning," said Pamela Mead, a mother with two children in the military, who attended the ceremony. "Patriotism has always been a big part of my family and we dropped everything to come down and stitch the flag."

The campaign to restore the National 9/11 flag began in 2008 and will continue to move throughout the United States through Sept. 11, 2011.

"As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, may every stitch in the National 9/11 flag remind us of the fragility of freedom and the human condition, and the sacrifices made by the brave to protect them," said Col. Brian Hastings, 355th Fighter Wing vice commander.