For Sandra McKenna, flags are a symbolic reminder of Sept. 11.

        The 54-year-old Indian Hill mother of four has kept two flags since that day — including one that flew over the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Mary Helwig of Mount Washington waves the flag she keeps in front of her home. She changes the flag several times a year to keep it looking fresh. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        “Every time I look at that flag, I think of that plane that went down in Pennsylvania,” she said Thursday, on the eve of Flag Day. “I truly believe that plane was headed for the Capitol. I honestly believe that my son is alive because of the bravery of those people.”

        Son Brian, a legislative assistant who works in the Capitol complex, gave her one of the red-white-and-blue reminders. That flag, along with one she already owned, will fly today.

        Flag Day takes on a special meaning this year as many in the Tristate remember those who died nine months ago in the worst attack on American soil as well as those who gave their lives protecting the country.

        June 14 was officially declared the nation's Flag Day by President Truman in 1949, commemorating the same date in 1777 when Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes, said Dr. Whitney Smith, director of the Flag Research Center in Massachusetts. Before the official recognition, people held their own flag days, as early as the Civil War.

        This year, Dr. Smith said, he expects to see more people participating in the holiday.

        “There are no hard statistics, but it's very likely because there has been more flag display in general,” he said.

        Tristate flags do not just fly on holidays. Mary Helwig of Mount Washington has flown the flag daily for more than 60 years.

        “It never comes in — it hangs on my porch every day and all night long,” she said. “The flag means a heck of a lot to me.”

        The 77-year-old purchases rayon flags in bulk, changing them at Christmas and on July 4 so they don't appear worn out. This year, she also will change the flag on Sept. 11.

        Others have been buying more flags since Sept. 11. The West End-based National Flag Co. still is busy filling orders it received shortly after the attacks.

        “Everything we make is pretty much right out the door,” said owner Larry Schaller.

        Local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts have been helping distribute flags to individuals, schools and organizations.

        But to the veterans, the flag brings back memories beyond Sept. 11. For Reuben Vickers, an active member of VFW Post 5662 in Newport for more than 45 years, the flag is a reminder of serving in World War II as a combat engineer.

        “September 11 was similar to the Pearl Harbor thing,” he said. “It was something that you never thought would happen. It was an awakening of what can happen to us. I just hope that (the patriotism) is not an overnight thing and it just dies out. We really need to remember what it's all about and how many people have died protecting that flag.”
       

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