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Flags from Ground Zero

By Alex Sundby

/ CBS News

An American flag flies as one of the World Trade Center towers burns Sept. 11, 2001, in New York.
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In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, many Americans flew the nation's flag as a way of supporting their country and mourning those who died. But some flags were more special than others: The flags flown above ground zero were treated almost as if they were relics from hallowed ground and were displayed across the country, overseas and even in space.An American flag flies as one of the World Trade Center towers burns Sept. 11, 2001, in New York. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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An American flag flies over the rubble of the collapsed World Trade Center buildings in New York Sept. 13, 2001.
AP Photo
An American flag flies over the rubble of the collapsed World Trade Center buildings in New York Sept. 13, 2001. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A huge mural showing a picture of firefighters raising the U.S. flag over the ruins of the World Trade Center is displayed outside the 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles Sept. 21, 2001. Security is being enhanced at movie studios in Los Angeles after
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A huge mural showing a picture of firefighters raising the U.S. flag over the ruins of the World Trade Center is displayed outside the 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles Sept. 21, 2001. Security is being enhanced at movie studios in Los Angeles after credible intelligence indicated they could be a possible target for a terrorist bombing. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Damage controlmen and U.S. Navy firefighters pass the first American flag raised above ground zero Sept. 30, 2001, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The flag was presented to the Theodore Roosevelt's crew to be flown during a deployment.
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Damage controlmen and U.S. Navy firefighters pass the first American flag raised above ground zero Sept. 30, 2001, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A flag recovered from ground zero flies over center field at Yankee Stadium in New York during Game 3 of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees Oct. 30, 2001. The Yankees defeated the Diamondbacks 2-1.
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A flag recovered from ground zero flies over center field at Yankee Stadium in New York during Game 3 of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees Oct. 30, 2001. The Yankees defeated the Diamondbacks 2-1. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A signed American flag sits in a public affairs office for the U.S. Marines Nov. 28, 2001, in New York City. The flag, which once flew at ground zero and became an impromptu memorial, was to be sent to Marines fighting in Afghanistan. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Lance Corporal Andrew Avant of Bellierica, Mass.; Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class John Gray of Columbia, Mo.; Sergeant Gary Bass from West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Disbursing Clerk 2nd Class Thomas Jack from Goose Creek, S.C., prepare Dec. 11, 2001, aboard
U.S. Navy/Getty Images
Lance Corporal Andrew Avant of Bellierica, Mass.; Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class John Gray of Columbia, Mo.; Sergeant Gary Bass from West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Disbursing Clerk 2nd Class Thomas Jack from Goose Creek, S.C., prepare Dec. 11, 2001, aboard the USS Bataan in the Arabian Sea to hoist a flag sent to them from ground zero in New York. The 12-foot-by-18-foot flag sent to the Bataan was then expected to be carried by the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Afghanistan. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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U.S. sailors and Marines come to attention during the national anthem as an American flag, which was found in the rubble of the World Trade Center, is raised Dec. 17, 2001, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom aboard the USS John C. Stennis. The flag
U.S. Navy/Getty Images
U.S. sailors and Marines come to attention during the national anthem as an American flag, which was found in the rubble of the World Trade Center, is raised Dec. 17, 2001, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom aboard the USS John C. Stennis. The flag was discovered by New York City policeman and U.S. Naval Reservist Sgt. Karl Hagstrom. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A clay model of the sculpture titled "Flag Raising At Ground Zero" is seen shortly after its unveiling Dec. 21, 2001, in Brooklyn, N.Y. The sculpture was planned to stand 18 feet high outside New York Fire Department headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn. The
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A clay model of the sculpture titled "Flag Raising At Ground Zero" is seen shortly after its unveiling Dec. 21, 2001, in Brooklyn, N.Y. The sculpture was planned to stand 18 feet high outside New York Fire Department headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn. The statue was inspired by the photo of three firefighters taken by Thomas E. Franklin of The Bergen (N.J.) Record on Sept. 11, 2001. Less than a month after the unveiling, officials dropped plans for the statue after complaints arose that it was inaccurate for depicting the firefighters as black, Hispanic and white when the men in the photo are all white. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Members of the New York police and fire departments salute as U.S. athletes hold the flag found at Ground Zero at the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at the Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium Feb. 8, 2002, in Salt Lake City.
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Members of the New York police and fire departments salute as U.S. athletes hold the flag found at Ground Zero at the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at the Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium Feb. 8, 2002, in Salt Lake City. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A U.S. flag found by workers sifting through the rubble at ground zero hangs out to dry so that it can be saved Feb. 14, 2002, in New York City. The colors have run into the white from being buried in damp soil for five months.
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A U.S. flag found by workers sifting through the rubble at ground zero hangs out to dry so that it can be saved Feb. 14, 2002, in New York City. The colors have run into the white from being buried in damp soil for five months. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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President George W. Bush unveils March 11, 2002, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington the new postage stamp which uses the famous photo by Thomas E. Franklin of The Bergen (N.J.) Record of New York firefighters raising a flag at ground zero
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President George W. Bush unveils the new postage stamp which uses the famous photo by Thomas E. Franklin of The Bergen (N.J.) Record of New York firefighters raising a flag at ground zero on March 11, 2002, in the Oval Office of the White House. The ceremony took place six months after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Two of the firefighters from the photo, George Johnson, left, and Dan McWilliams, center, are standing next to Mr. Bush. Postmaster General Jack Potter looks on. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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National Guardsmen look at one of the three U.S. flags recovered from ground zero during a presentation at the Golden Gate Bridge March 18, 2002, in San Francisco. New York City Police Sgt. Joe Keenan brought the flag to San Francisco as a show of appreci
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National Guardsmen look at one of the three U.S. flags recovered from ground zero during a presentation at the Golden Gate Bridge March 18, 2002, in San Francisco. New York City Police Sgt. Joe Keenan brought the flag to San Francisco as a show of appreciation to the San Francisco Police Department for its help after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. This is the first time the flag had been publicly displayed since it was found. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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New York City Police Sgt. Joe Keenan, left, dusts off one of the three U.S. flags that have been recovered from ground zero during a presentation at the Golden Gate Bridge March 18, 2002, in San Francisco. Keenan brought the flag to San Francisco as a sho
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New York City Police Sgt. Joe Keenan, left, dusts off one of the three U.S. flags that have been recovered from ground zero during a presentation at the Golden Gate Bridge March 18, 2002, in San Francisco. Keenan brought the flag to San Francisco as a show of appreciation to the San Francisco Police Department for its help after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. This is the first time the flag had been publicly displayed since it was found. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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New York Police Department officers play the national anthem as a U.S. flag that once flew over ground zero is raised during a ceremony at City Hall Plaza April 1, 2002, in New York City. The flag was immortalized in a photograph by Thomas E. Franklin of
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New York Police Department officers play the national anthem as a U.S. flag that once flew over ground zero is raised during a ceremony at City Hall Plaza April 1, 2002, in New York City. The flag was immortalized in a photograph by Thomas E. Franklin of The Bergen (N.J.) Record of three firefighters raising it amid the rubble of the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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American Ambassador Charles Swindells and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark view in Wellington, New Zealand, April 30, 2002, the ground zero flag recovered from New York's Twin Towers disaster site. The flag, which had been stored in an underground l
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American Ambassador Charles Swindells and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark view the ground zero flag recovered from New York's Twin Towers disaster site on April 30, 2002, in Wellington, New Zealand. The flag, which had been stored in an underground level of the World Trade Center complex, was presented to Clark in New York in March by two New York Police Department officers and has been placed in a permanent position in Parliament Buildings. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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U.S. Navy Ensign Raquita Walker bows her head during the closing prayer of Memorial Day celebrations at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum during Fleet Week May 27, 2002, in New York City as she holds a giant American flag that flew over ground zero.
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U.S. Navy Ensign Raquita Walker bows her head during the closing prayer of Memorial Day celebrations at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum during Fleet Week May 27, 2002, in New York City as she holds a giant American flag that flew over ground zero. The annual maritime festival draws 22 military ships and 6,000 naval personnel to the city. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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NASA astronauts Dominic Gorie, left, and Frank Culbertson present an American flag to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in honor of Flag Day June 14, 2002, in New York City. The flag was found at ground zero and was flown into space in December 2001 a
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NASA astronauts Dominic Gorie, left, and Frank Culbertson present an American flag to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in honor of Flag Day June 14, 2002, in New York City. The flag was found at ground zero and was flown into space in December 2001 aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. Culbertson was on board the International Space Station during the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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New York Republican Gov. George Pataki stands with, from left to right, firefighter Billy Eisengrein, Lt. Dan McWilliams and Lt. George Johnson at Madame Tussauds wax museum Sept. 3, 2002, in New York City in front of a wax replica of the photograph by Th
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New York Republican Gov. George Pataki stands with, from left to right, firefighter Billy Eisengrein, Lt. Dan McWilliams and Lt. George Johnson at Madame Tussauds wax museum Sept. 3, 2002, in New York City in front of a wax replica of the photograph by Thomas E. Franklin from The Bergen (N.J.) Record of the firefighters on Sept. 11, 2001. The replica was to be part of an exhibit at the museum called Hope: Humanity and Heroism. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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An American flag that stood on top of the last support beam from the south tower of the former World Trade Center is removed moments before the beam is dismantled and loaded onto a flatbed truck during a ceremony at ground zero May 28, 2002, in New York.
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An American flag that stood on top of the last support beam from the south tower of the former World Trade Center is removed moments before the beam is dismantled and loaded onto a flatbed truck during a ceremony at ground zero May 28, 2002, in New York. The beam was left standing during recovery operations. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A U.S. Embassy official carries a British Union flag retrieved from the ruins at ground zero outside the U.S. Embassy Sept. 11, 2002, in London. The flag is presumed to have belonged to a British office worker who died at ground zero and was to be present
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A U.S. Embassy official carries a British Union flag retrieved from the ruins at ground zero outside the U.S. Embassy Sept. 11, 2002, in London. The flag is presumed to have belonged to a British office worker who died at ground zero and was to be presented to the British government at a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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The Ground Zero Flag is displayed at Yankee Stadium Sept. 11, 2002, before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles in New York City.
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The Ground Zero Flag is displayed at Yankee Stadium Sept. 11, 2002, before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles in New York City. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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An honor guard displays the flag from the World Trade Center on the opening night of the U.S. Open Sept. 26, 2002, in Queens, N.Y., for the first U.S. Open played since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
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An honor guard displays the flag from the World Trade Center on the opening night of the US Open Sept. 26, 2002, in Queens, N.Y., for the first U.S. Open played since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A New York City police officer stands next to a dusty U.S. flag during the re-dedication of the Millenium Hilton Hotel May 5, 2003, in New York City. The hotel, directly across from ground zero, just barely survived the downing of the World Trade Center S
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A New York City police officer stands next to a dusty U.S. flag during the re-dedication of the Millenium Hilton Hotel May 5, 2003, in New York City. The hotel, directly across from ground zero, just barely survived the downing of the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001, and raised the dusty flags that were flying that day as a tribute. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A worker walks past an American flag that flew in front of the Millenium Hilton Hotel Sept. 11, 2001, and was re-hung in the hotel's lobby Sept. 4, 2003, in New York City. The hotel is located directly across the street from ground zero.
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A worker walks past an American flag that flew in front of the Millenium Hilton Hotel Sept. 11, 2001, and was re-hung in the hotel's lobby Sept. 4, 2003, in New York City. The hotel is located directly across the street from ground zero. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A U.S. flag that flew at the World Trade Center is carried off a stage by officers representing police and firefighters at ground zero during commemorations of the second anniversary of the terror attacks Sept. 11, 2003, in New York. The flag flew on boar
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A U.S. flag that flew at the World Trade Center is carried off a stage by officers representing police and firefighters at ground zero during commemorations of the second anniversary of the terror attacks Sept. 11, 2003, in New York. The flag flew on board the space shuttle Endeavour during its December 2001 mission to honor the victims of the attack. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Flags that were flown over ground zero, the Pentagon and the crash site of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania fly in front of the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York Aug. 3, 2004. The statue's pedestal was opened to the public for the first time since
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Flags that were flown over ground zero, the Pentagon and the crash site of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania fly in front of the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York Aug. 3, 2004. The statue's pedestal was opened to the public for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The higher reaches of the statue remained closed to the public. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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The flag which flew above the World Trade Center is carried to the stage during ceremonies marking the third anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at ground zero Sept. 11, 2004, in New York City.
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The flag which flew above the World Trade Center is carried to the stage during ceremonies marking the third anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at ground zero Sept. 11, 2004, in New York City. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Police officers and firefighters carry the U.S. flag that flew over ground zero until late October 2001 during a ceremony Sept. 11, 2005, in New York City to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
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Police officers and firefighters carry the U.S. flag that flew over ground zero until late October 2001 during a ceremony Sept. 11, 2005, in New York City to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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New York City firefighters hold an American flag that was damaged during the 9/11 terrorist attacks during a ceremony at the World Trade Center site Sept. 11, 2007, in New York City.
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New York City firefighters hold an American flag that was damaged during the 9/11 terrorist attacks during a ceremony at the World Trade Center site Sept. 11, 2007, in New York City. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Participants of a 9/11 memorial ceremony view at Zuccotti Park Sept. 11, 2008, in New York City a tattered flag saved from the World Trade Center site.
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Participants of a 9/11 memorial ceremony view a tattered flag saved from the World Trade Center site at Zuccotti Park Sept. 11, 2008, in New York City. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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New York City firefighters carry an American flag which survived the 9/11 attacks as people gather at ground zero during a memorial ceremony Sept. 11, 2009, in New York.
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New York City firefighters carry an American flag which survived the 9/11 attacks as people gather at ground zero during a memorial ceremony Sept. 11, 2009, in New York. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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An honor guard carries a flag found at ground zero at the beginning of the annual 9/11 memorial service Sept. 11, 2010, in New York City.
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An honor guard carries a flag found at ground zero at the beginning of the annual 9/11 memorial service Sept. 11, 2010, in New York City. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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A boy walks past the National 9/11 Flag, recovered after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, outside the entrance of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for the funeral of 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green Jan. 13, 2011, in Tucson, Ariz
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A boy walks past the National 9/11 Flag, recovered after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, outside the entrance of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for the funeral of 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green Jan. 13, 2011, in Tucson, Ariz. Green was shot and killed during the Jan. 8, 2011, shooting rampage at a political event. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Representatives from the Wounded Warrior Detachment of the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center hold the National 9/11 Flag during the Salute to Heroes ceremony during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden March 11, 2011
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Representatives from the Wounded Warrior Detachment of the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center hold the National 9/11 Flag during the Salute to Heroes ceremony during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden March 11, 2011, in Indian Wells, Calif. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Family members of 9/11 victims participate in a flag-stitching event July 14, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington. About 150 people, including survivors, victims' loved ones, rescue and recovery workers and politicians, gathered to help repair the Nationa
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Family members of 9/11 victims participate in a flag-stitching event July 14, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington. About 150 people, including survivors, victims' loved ones, rescue and recovery workers and politicians, gathered to help repair the National 9/11 Flag damaged at the World Trade Center in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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The shadow of a visitor to The Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, England, views Sept. 8, 2011, a Union Jack flag recovered from the wreckage of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. For the 10th anniversary of the terror attack, museum visitor
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The shadow of a visitor to The Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, England, views Sept. 8, 2011, a Union Jack flag recovered from the wreckage of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. For the 10th anniversary of the terror attack, museum visitors will be able to view the flag and steel girders recovered from ground zero. Special Section | 9/11: Ten Years Later
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Alex Sundby

Alex Sundby is an associate news editor for CBSNews.com

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