New Installation: Our Flag Was Still THere

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 19, 2026

THE 9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM BEGINS 25TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMMING WITH NEW "OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE" INSTALLATION

​​New Exhibition Displays Historical Flags Raised over Ground Zero and the Pentagon, Honoring the Resilience of the Stars and Stripes 250 Years Later​ 

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New York, NY –  As the nation prepares to mark 25 years since September 11, 2001 and 250 years of American independence, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum today opened "Our Flag Was Still There," a new installation featuring American flags associated with 9/11 and the events that followed.

Located in the Museum’s Foundation Hall, the installation pairs these historic flags with personal stories from first responders, veterans, and everyday Americans – illustrating the flag's power to unite and inspire during a defining chapter of the nation's 250-year history. These include FDNY Captain Michael Dugan, who hung an American flag near Ground Zero on September 11, and Paramedic Antonio Suarez who assisted in the immediate emergency response efforts and recovered fragments of an American flag from the wreckage. 

"For 250 years, the American flag has conveyed faith in our nation and gratitude for the sacrifices so many have made for our freedom. In the aftermath of 9/11, the flag helped unite people across the country," said Elizabeth Hillman, President and CEO of the National September 11th Memorial & Museum. "This new exhibition aims to inspire a new generation with the flag’s legacy of resilience and strength.” 

“Our Flag Was Still There” will be centered around four historic flags with deep connection to 9/11, each representing a unique chapter of American history: 

  • The Ground Zero Flag: Raised by FDNY firefighters on the afternoon of 9/11, this flag became a global symbol of hope through Tom Franklin’s iconic photograph [LINK TO PHOTOGRAPH]. The installation traces this flag’s journey from a yacht at a nearby marina to its recovery and permanent home in the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It is displayed alongside the 2002 USPS stamps and medals that immortalized the image. 

  • The Pentagon Flag: A massive “Garrison flag” – the largest official U.S. flag – this flag was draped over the side of the Pentagon on September 12, 2001, by soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Regiment and Arlington firefighters. Provided by the U.S. Army Band, it served as a defiant signal of American resolve in the immediate wake of the attack. 

  • The Last Column Flag: This flag was raised over the "Last Column," the 36-foot-tall steel remnant of the South Tower, which stands proudly in the center of Foundation Hall. It remained standing throughout the entire nine-month rescue and recovery operation at Ground Zero, serving as a constant presence for the workers on-site until it was ceremoniously removed on May 30, 2002, to mark the official end of rescue, recovery, and relief efforts at Ground Zero. 

  • The Bin Laden Raid Flag: Marking the 15th anniversary of Operation Neptune Spear on May 2, 2026, this flag was carried by a lead Chinook pilot during the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. The pilot wore the flag tucked into his flight gear; it now bears the handwritten inscription: “5/1/11 Geronimo ‘NS’” – the code words used to signal the mission's success.’ 

The exhibit will also include multiple representations of the American Flag that were utilized by patriotic Americans to pay tribute to the lives lost on September 11. It includes actual physical flags flown at Ground Zero and other memorial sites, images taken by photojournalists at critical moments, and commemorative items featuring the American flag that were distributed in the aftermath of the attacks.    

The new installation will remain on view until February 2028.  

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ABOUT THE 9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
A quarter century after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the country’s principal institution concerned with exploring 9/11, documenting its impact, and examining its continuing significance. This mission is advanced through commemoration, education, and inspiration. Located on eight of the 16 acres of the World Trade Center site, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum remembers and honors the 2,983 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. Through exhibitions, a wide variety of programs, and commemorative events, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum seeks to educate the public – particularly the 100 million Americans born since the attacks or those too young to remember – about the consequences of terrorism and its impact on individuals and communities. Through preserving and sharing stories of resilience, compassion, and service, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum hopes to inspire individuals to build a more compassionate and secure world. 

For more information or to reserve a ticket to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, please visit 911memorial.org. 

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