To honor the public safety personnel who gave their lives on September 11, 2001, a local group has arranged for the Patriot Flag, a 30-by-57.5 foot flag, to tour all 50 states in the union as a way to observe the 10-year anniversary of the tragedy.
"It's going to travel the United States getting out a message, which is 'United We Stand' and to never forget what happened on 9/11," said Mitch Mendler, volunteer president for the World Memorial group.
The flag has already flown over 27 states, on Tuesday the flag was back in San Diego flying over the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department repair facility on Kearny Villa Road.
The flag's next stop is Montana, according to Mendler. The flag is delivered free of charge by Federal Express, who sends the flag to each destination by next day air, Mendler said.
The Patriot Flag was donated to the World Memorial group by the Escondido Auto Park Association through the American Legion Post J.B.Clark Post 149, Mendler said.
The cross-country tour began in San Diego on August 10, 2011 and will in San Diego in September 2011, according to the group's website.
"It will be retired in San Diego County in Escondido and then it may end up in a museum somewhere," Mendler said.
