2012Patriot Flag to Join Ground Zero Relic at the South Florida Fair
The 60-pound Patriot Flag began its 50 week, 50 state tour on September 10, 2010 and will fly at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2011. In addition to the Fair, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue will raise the flag at the steel column’s final resting place, Wellington’s Patriot Memorial Site, located adjacent to City Hall at 12300 West Forest Hill Boulevard.
“The Patriot Flag can only stay in Wellington for a short time, but the steel will be on display for the entire duration of the South Florida Fair, from January 14th to 30th,” said Vice Mayor Matt Willhite, who is also a Captain with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. “Our goal is to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to experience this steel and to remember 9/11.”
In addition to the 8-foot by 36-foot steel artifact, Wellington’s display will feature a video which includes former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s personal message to Wellington, footage from the steel’s journey to Palm Beach County and the story of a hero who rescued workers on the floors the steel once occupied. The three-story beam originally supported a window section of World Trade Center’s South tower, the second tower hit by a plane and the first to collapse. The steel spanned floors 69 to 71, just seven stories below the impact zone.
For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch Channel 18 for the latest happenings.
