Contact: Stephen Dunhom, flags04@flagsonthe48.org, 603-380-0970
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Hikers remember 9/11 in New Hampshire’s White Mountains
White Mountains, NH – September 8, 2004 – The third annual “Flags on the 48”, A September 11th Memorial Hike, will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2004 in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
The “Flags on the 48” event was established in response to the horrific terrorist attacks that took place in America on September 11, 2001. A website for the event has been set up at https://www.flagsonthe48.org
Three days after the attacks several regular on-line posters to the AMC Hiker Journal message forum banded together and planned a hike the following day. Intent on raising the largest American flag they could find from the summit of Mt. Liberty.
On September 15, 2001, six hikers met at the White House Trailhead armed with a 96 square foot flag, 30 feet of PVC tubing, 100 feet of rope, 2 rolls of duct tape, and a wealth of pride and determination. As a gesture of sympathy for such a horrific loss, the American flag was raised on the summit of Mt. Liberty, paying tribute to the thousands of innocent people who perished in the attacks. This patriotic display received such tremendous amounts of positive feedback that a committee was formed to establish a larger, annual memorial. The “Flags on the 48” event was given life.
On September 14, 2002 and again on September 13, 2003, several hundred patriotic and compassionate hikers embarked on a collective journey to raise American flags on all 48 of the 4,000+ foot summits in New Hampshire. This tribute, to the sacrifice of life and our strength of unity as a nation, remains small in the scope of the enormity of all that has been lost. However, the feedback from participants, as well as observers, continues to be overwhelmingly positive and this small tribute has gained tremendous support.
By raising Old Glory on Saturday, September 11, 2004, a united community of hikers will continue to honor the families and communities that have suffered the ultimate and tragic losses as well as all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have served and sacrificed to preserve our liberty. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
Visit https://www.flagsonthe48.org or E-mail flags04@flagsonthe48.org for more information or to sign up to raise a flag on one of the 48 peaks.
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