Flag at Pentagon Attack Site Lowered, Preserved
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2001 -- The huge American flag that
hung to the right of the damaged area of the Pentagon was
lowered Oct. 11 and folded with full military honors.
Soldiers of A Company, 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard),
lowered the colors and folded them on the helipad just in
front of where hijacked airliner hit the Pentagon Sept. 11.
Before Sept. 11, the flag belonged to the U.S. Army Band
and nearby Fort Myer, Va. It is a garrison flag, the
largest authorized for the military.
After the attack on the Pentagon, bandsmen sent the flag to
the Pentagon. During President Bush's visit to the impact
site, 3rd Infantry soldiers and fire fighters unveiled the
flag and draped it over the side of the building.
The flag had hung in place ever since. Each night, workers
illuminated it with flood lights. Today, the flag is soot-
stained and ripped at one spot where it rubbed up against
the building.
"This flag will never be flown again," Maj. Gen. Jim
Jackson, commander of the Army Military District of
Washington, said following the ceremony. Jackson will
present the flag to the Army leadership later. They will
decide its ultimate destination.
| Soldiers from A Company, 3rd Infantry (The
Old Guard), present Military District of Washington
Commander Maj. Gen. Jim Jackson with the American flag that
draped the side of the Pentagon beside the impact site
where terrorists crashed a hijacked airliner Sept. 11,
2001. The soldiers lowered and folded the flag ceremonially
Oct. 11. Photo by Jim Garamone. (Click photo for screen-
resolution image; high-resolution image available.)
|
| Soldiers from A Company, 3rd Infantry (The
Old Guard), fold the giant garrison flag that draped the
side of the Pentagon beside the impact site where
terrorists crashed a hijacked airliner Sept. 11, 2001. The
soldiers lowered and folded the flag ceremonially Oct. 11
for presentation to Army leadership. It will never be flown
again. Photo by Jim Garamone. (Click photo for screen-
resolution image; high-resolution image available.)
|
| Soldiers gather the giant garrison flag
being lowered from the side of the Pentagon, where it hung
beside the impact site of terrorist air crash Sept. 11,
2001. The soldiers retired the flag ceremonially Oct. 11.
It will never be flown again. Photo by Jim Garamone.
(Click photo for screen-
resolution image; high-resolution image available.)
|
| Soldiers prepare to lower the garrison flag
that draped the side of the Pentagon beside the impact site
where terrorists crashed a hijacked airliner Sept. 11,
2001. The soldiers folded the flag ceremonially Oct. 11 for
presentation to Army leadership. It will never be flown
again. Photo by Jim Garamone. (Click photo for screen-
resolution image; high-resolution image available.)
|
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