I was working in the shop and around 10 AM turned on the radio and heard the PBS newscaster relating the unbelievable events that were unfolding in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. Wondering if this was some sort of dark humor, I went into the house and switched on the television to CNN. What I saw confirmed what I had heard.

My thoughts went immediately to my son who lives in Manhattan – how close to the World Trade Center, I did not know. My concern diminished somewhat when I learned that his apartment was at least a mile from the disaster site and when, after numerous attempts to reach him by phone, I got through to his answering machine. I convinced myself that since it was working, his apartment building must be all right too. The next day he called to tell me he was ok – he was in Germany! I was greatly relieved to hear from him and the sinking, gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach disappeared.

I did, however, feel a certain sense of guilt. While the events and deaths were both almost unbelievable and mind numbing, I must confess that when I learned that my son was safe I felt a certain sense of detachment and distance from the events that I did not feel before. This led me to question what sort of compassionate, caring person I might or might not be. Several days later I heard an interview on the radio with a gentleman who, for the better part of a day, knowing that both his son and wife were on separate plane flights, was not able to find out if they were all right. It turned out that they were. I was both startled and relieved to learn that his feelings, and perhaps those of thousands of others, of concern, worry, relief and guilt were a mirror image of mine. Perhaps I am not as shallow as I had begun to wonder.

Since September 11 there has been much talk about an increase in patriotism and flags can be seen flying just about everywhere. And so, while making stars for Christmas ornaments not long after the attack, I don’t suppose that it was odd that I thought about fashioning a large flag designed to be a piece of folk art made of tin and wood. During the next week or so, this idea evolved into a flag that is smaller in size and crafted using different materials.

I wanted to give the flag a title and after much consideration September 11, 2001 was chosen so that people with different thoughts, feelings, and remembrances of that day could attach their own personal meaning to their flag. To me, my flag stands as a tribute to the hundreds of dedicated firemen, policemen, rescue workers, health aides, and others who unhesitatingly responded to the disaster that was almost too massive to contemplate. It stands as a tribute to the thousands of people who so needlessly perished. It stands for the many thousands whose lives were so intimately affected by the loss of friends and loved ones. And it serves as a reminder that it is vital that we, as individuals and as a nation, do all in our power to keep from slipping into the state of complacency that helped contribute to this terrible disaster.

The flag’s field and stripes are all individually cut. The stars, field, and stripes are painted with specially hand-mixed colors. The stars are applied to the field one at a time and then the field and stripes are assembled to form the finished flag. The flag is then matted and framed. The September 11, 2001 plaque is cast from the highest quality pewter. Because the paint colors are mixed by hand, there will be some slight variation from flag to flag. The flag is also available as a print.

Each flag is signed, dated, and numbered and has a copy of the above text affixed to the back of the frame. Flags are available as originals and prints in the larger size and as prints only in the smaller size. They can be framed with a variety of mat and frame combinations -see the other detail pages in this gallery for some examples. The selection of frame moldings is pictured below.

Frame Selection, left to right:

#3921 Tiger Maple - wood, #1871 Gold-leaf – wood

#85-301 Etched Gold – metal, #85-310 Dark Gold - metal, #85-303 Dark Blue – metal

#1461 Gold-leaf – wood, #1451 Gold-leaf – wood, #3351 Cherry –wood