Posted on 08/07/2004 5:55:35 PM PDT by naturalman1975
FOUND beneath tens-of-thousands of tonnes of rubble and twisted steel, this soiled and crumpled flag is a solemn reminder that September 11, 2001, was more than an American tragedy.
Now, almost three years since 2749 people perished in New York, the Australian flag is going home to be preserved and mounted by the Federal Government.
The Government intends to consult relatives of the 11 Australians killed by terrorists on September 11 on how best to display the flag. Ten Australians died in New York and one in Washington DC.
The flag, measuring about 1m x 1.5m, was excavated from the site of the World Trade Centre in the months after the terror attacks. It was catalogued, put in storage along with thousands of other items and then misplaced, said 9/11 hero and NYPD Emergency Services Unit Detective Patrick McGee.
After rediscovering the flag last month, Detective McGee contacted Australia's New York Consul-General Ken Allen and presented it to him at a private ceremony at the Manhattan Consulate.
"When the NYPD returned it and described how it had been found, I fully appreciated the sensitivities of the people of New York in returning it the way they did," Mr Allen said.
"It made me hugely emotional because it brought back all the memories of that day."
Detective McGee said the flag may have been in one of the twin towers, but most likely was in the World Trade Centre Three building that once stood on the plaza between, and connected to, the towers.
The flag was checked for human remains before being handed over.
Most Americans would not im mediately recognise Australia's flag, but Detective McGee did because he went to Australia for a holiday in 1988, visiting Brisbane for the Expo.
The flag was folded, sealed and placed in a box and sent home in the diplomatic pouch on Thursday. It is due to arrive this week.
ping
Aussie buddy bump
"The Government intends to consult relatives of the 11 Australians killed by terrorists on September 11 on how best to display the flag."
Not for nothing, as we say in New York, but why would the relatives be uniquely knowledgable in how the flag ought to be displayed?
No, thank you all down under for being our friends. Since September 11 it's been you and the Brits. But that's more than enough. Rest assured, when China makes it's move, we'll be there for you.
You're evidently anticipating the same level of politicization our 9/11 families have had here.
Hear, Hear!
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, "Says the Wuss: Ma, He's Touching Me"
If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.
I'm glad it's going home. The Aussies have been such great and true allies. We couldn't ask for better people to be at our side.
Australia produces beautiful women with guts, men who make great friends, great movie directors, and three of my ex-girlfriends. They aren't a (french) poodle that rubber-stamps everything the US wants but we have mutual interests and they don't shirk from what's the right thing to do.
Hey, you guys want Canada? We're not really using it, and we'll take it over tomorrow afternoon if you mates need extra parking or something. Just a "thank you" gift for being there. ;)
Whenever I'm traveling somewhere in the world, it is very easy to recognize Americans and Australians without their even saying a word. They are usually smiling, happy, friendly, and open people even around strangers. So much of the rest of the world is somber, withdrawn, and unhappy in public. Italians tend to be happy people as well, but mostly with family and friends and less so with outsiders. This says a lot about the similarities of Australian and American culture.
They are 'good people', and I'm damn glad they are on our side.
Deo Vindice (God Vindicates)
"Perhaps not the most knowledgable, but they can surely be described as those with the greatest "license" to decide where it should go."
Why? Who are they? Are they more Australian?
The attack on the towers wasn't a personal thing. It was an act of war by one society upon another; it was an attack upon all of us. I don't see that relatives of the dead have any such license.
If it wasn't an attack upon all of us then all those soldiers in Iraq should come home and let the relatives of the dead go and fight their own fight.
Absurd of course!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.