“This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation.” – President Woodrow Wilson

 

The American Flag and Statue of Liberty have always been beacons of hope to the people they represent. Through good times and bad, Americans see them as symbols of freedom, liberty, and peace. Especially in our darkest hours, they become a source of strength for the American people. 

 

The disastrous events of September 11, 2001, shocked America and the world. Never had such an atrocity been committed on American soil, and many wondered if America could ever be the same. But amid the rubble, three firefighters realized the New York emergency workers and America needed hope. They found an American flag on a boat in a nearby arena and raised it where the buildings once stood. The touching moment was captured by a local photographer, and by the next day appeared on countless newspapers worldwide – an image of America’s strength.

 

Other photos from that day show the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of perseverance, before the smoke-filled sky. Surrounded by devastation, America’s most enduring symbol stood strong against terror.