PRESS RELEASES - OCTOBER 2007

October 15, 2007

Flag From Ground Zero Arrives In Arlington To Honor Fallen Heroes

A flag that has traveled around the nation, since 2001, to law enforcement departments in honor of fallen officers arrived in Arlington today.

The flag of honor traveled in the cockpit alongside the pilot during a commercial flight from Florida, where the flag previously flew in honor of a fallen officer. Water cannons saluted the airplane’s arrival at D/FW Airport with “a shower of affection”. The flag was then presented to the Arlington Police Department by the captain of the American Airlines flight.

The flag of honor was escorted to Arlington city hall where a formal flag raising ceremony occurred honoring all fallen Arlington Police Department officers killed in the line of duty. The flag will fly at Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center the week of October 15th.

Arlington Police Chief Theron Bowman said the city’s opportunity to host the flag is an incredible honor.

“We at the Arlington Police Department, along with the families of our fallen officers, appreciate the sacrifice they made while serving our city,” Chief Bowman said. “We welcome this occasion as another way to remember and honor our six heroes and to pay tribute to those fallen heroes in other parts of this great nation.”

Background

Shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Texas Governor, Rick Perry, arranged for the flag, which had been flying at half mast over the Capitol Building of the State of Texas, to be sent to the City of New York. Officers from around the nation collaborated in establishing the longest police motorcade in U.S. history. The Honor Guard presented the flag to the Governor of New York at New York Police Headquarters. Family members requested that this one flag be used to continuously honor all American heroes. Today the continual pages of history are being written. Since 2001 this tribute to America’s finest men and women proudly flies around the nation.

The flag was flown during the recovery efforts at ground zero and at the memorial services for the Port Authority in New Jersey. It was then recommended the flag be used for all other service men and women around the nation, honoring them just as the heroes of 9/11.

In October 2004 the flag traveled to Kuwait, Qatar, and Iraq while on tour with American Soldiers. The flag was flown over U.S. military camps and bases, honoring U.S. military men and women during memorial services.

Since then, the flag has come full circle by flying over the Capital of Texas on a rainy September 11, 2007, where it all began. From the Lone Star State to the rest of the nation, the flag continues to move on.