Photo credit: 9/11 Memorial staff
Accession Number: C.2018.34.14
Dimensions: 67 in X 65 in X 2 in
Dimensions (Metric): 170.18 cm X 165.1 cm X 5.08 cm
Credit Line: Gift of National U.S. Customs Museum Foundation
Description
American flag with gold/dark yellow colored tassel fringe. The flag is attached to a truncated pole with an eagle figurine at the top. One wing of the eagle is broken off and missing and the gilding is worn.
Historical Notes
US Customs Special Agent Nelson Chen removed this flag from the 6 World Trade Center/US Custom House as he and his colleagues were evacuating from their offices on 9/11. Chen’s instinct to rescue the flag from the Office of Investigations proved prescient as it would have been lost when the US Custom House was badly damaged during the collapse of the Twin Towers.