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American Morning

U.S. Flag that Flew at Ground Zero Being Sent to Marines in Afghanistan

Aired November 28, 2001 - 07:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, a look at the spirit of America. A symbol of American resilience is now heading to the war zone. A U.S. flag that flew at ground zero is being sent to U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, and of all of the flags there, Beth Nissen explains why this one is unlike all others.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BETH NISSEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is the size of a small room, 12 by 18 feet of Stars and Stripes and heartfelt emotion, an American flag carrying hundreds of messages, inspired by the September 11 attack. The flag was one of many that appeared within days of the attack, hanging from almost every freestanding structure at ground zero.

The flag was found fluttering from the side of One World Financial Center. This one just so happened to be looking like it was (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the fall. It was brought back here to the Command Post and set up on tables.

NISSEN: For several weeks, the flag lay near the work maps at ground zero that noted the last known locations of the 23 NYPD officers killed at the World Trade Center. One day, someone -- no one remembers who -- marked the names of the lost officers onto the stars of the flag. Gradually, people inked in messages on the red and white stripes.

LT. JOHN DURKIN, NYPD EMERGENCY SERVICE UNIT: People started signing it. It was signed by the victims' families, their parents, their husbands and their wives, and other police officers and law enforcement officers who were here. They came in, they signed it.

NISSEN: How many of you signed the flag?

Workers who came through the Command Post, NYPD and Port Authority police, officers from the Department of Corrections, added their thoughts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had written that "we mourn for you as we mourn for our own."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Prayers and blessings on families and victims." UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Guiding country," I wrote, and "New York City Department of Corrections."

NISSEN: Three of the 23 NYPD officers killed at the World Trade Center were former Marines: Sergeant John Cauflin (ph), Sergeant Mike Curtin and Officer Vincent Danz. Someone suggested that in their honor the flag be given to the Marines, and it was. The Marines are sending the flag by special courier this week to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Afghanistan.

Many who signed the flag say they want it presented to Osama bin Laden in a very specific way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'd like to see him in his coffin with our flag on top of his grave.

NISSEN: Use of the flag will be up to the Marines.

MAJ. DAVID C. ANDERSON, U.S. MARINE CORPS: They will most likely fly it on the ship. They may take it ashore. They may put it over a camp. They may just keep it folded and keep it in their command post and just keep it under wraps until they feel it's time to fly it and fly it proudly.

NISSEN: Beth Nissen, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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