Mattapoisett Flies Historic Ground Zero Flag at New Fire Station

When Mattapoisett's brand new fire station opened less than 2 years ago, it was replacing a facility that had been in service since the 1940's.  The new station's amenities, including important safety measures like showers to wash off dangerous chemicals after a fire, have brought the town's fire department into the modern day.  It was a piece of history, however, not a new upgrade, that had Mattapoisett talking this week.

The Mattapoisett fire station was invited to fly the Ground Zero Flag this week.  The historic flag was raised in a quiet ceremony Tuesday night that included nine minutes and eleven seconds of silence.  This was the very flag that was flown at the World Trade Center at Ground Zero.  The brave flag was raised amongst the fallen rubble from the World Trade's South Tower the week of the attack on America.  It stayed there for nearly two months during the search, recovery and cleanup of the devastation.

Incredibly, paired with the Ground Zero flag was a marble cross that was carved out of marble that was recovered from the lobby of the south tower.  The flag and the marble cross have made three tours in Iraq.  The items have been inside a Blackhawk helicopter and have run combat missions.

The flag has been flown over the Pentagon, on US Navy warships and at other U.S. military camps across the world.

The flag is now touring police and fire stations across the country as it leads up to being officially retired on the 25th anniversary of it's service at the rubble of the World Trade Center.