9-11 Flag On Display - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

9-11 Flag On Display

The "New York Says Thank You" group has brought along a special flag on this trip to North Dakota.

The 9-11 flag was one of the largest flags to fly over the wreckage of the World Trade Center 11 years ago.

It was nearly destroyed in the time it flew over the site - but some tornado survivors from Kansas stitched it back together seven years later.

Today, the flag was on display at Minot State University before being brought to Bottineau.

The National 9-11 Flag is considered one of the most meaningful symbols of the nation's resolve and unity following the 9-11 attacks.

Over the past few years, threads have been added to the flag - threads stitched by disaster survivors, astronauts, members of congress, and many others.

Here's how it looked and sounded as the flag was unfurled this afternoon outside of Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at Minot State University.

The man behind the "New York Says Thank You" project addressed the crowd today, telling the story of the flag - including one chapter where threads from the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner were sewn onto the 9-11 flag.

(Jeff Parness, New York Says Thank You) "If you look at the red patch with the white in the middle the three red threads came from the original star spangled banner that flew at Fort McHenry that inspired the National Anthem. That's what we brought to you guys because we're all in this together."

Also today, the Stars of Hope project was unveiled at MSU.

It's a chance for kids to paint stars with a message of hope or faith to be posted in places where disaster has struck - such as a flood zone.

You'll have another chance to paint stars tomorrow at Minot's Oak Park from 10am to 7pm.