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Flag unfurled by soldiers and firefighters at the Pentagon on September 12, 2001
Lent by the U.S. Army Center of Military History


On September 12, 2001, the day after terrorists attacked the Pentagon, President George W. Bush came to view the damage. He was greeted by a giant American flag, which was unfurled from the roof of the building by soldiers and firefighters. The banner, a garrison flag from the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, draped the west wall of the Pentagon for nearly a month. At night, workers illuminated the flag with floodlights. On October 11, 2001, the flag was lowered and folded with full military honors.