American Flag Now Waves Over Ellijay’s “Ground Zero”

There’s more than the true American spirit now proudly on display in Ellijay as volunteers arrive from around the country to help rebuild an animal shelter destroyed by tornadoes. On Wednesday, the American flag was raised for the first time at the Build An Ark Animal Rescue site. The flag and flag pole were donated by an anonymous source, but the gift was made in honor of Ellijay’s fallen son, Army 1st Lt. Noah Harris.

Harris was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga. He joined the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, telling his father that people “must serve some higher purpose than yourself in life.” On June 17, 2005, Harris’ Humvee was attacked in Iraq by enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades. He died from the injuries he sustained in that attack within 24 hours. He was buried on his 24th birthday.

This weekend’s events surrounding the National 9/11 Flag on display in Ellijay and a countrywide volunteer effort to rebuild the Build An Ark Animal Rescue shelter are being dedicated in honor of Harris. The young lieutenant’s parents were on-hand for Wednesday’s ceremony to raise the American flag that will be a permanent fixture at the site. Many volunteers were there, too.

When they heard the flag was about to be raised, the volunteers put down their hammers and saws and gathered around Rick and Lucy Harris. The flag slowly made its way up the flag pole as the group sang “God Bless America.” It flapped gently in a late July breeze as it reached its home high in the blue sky.

Everyone is invited to help with the construction project on Saturday and view The National 9/11 Flag which will be on display at Gilmer High School Saturday afternoon. The barn is being constructed at the animal rescue site near the Coosawattee River Resort development at 27 Eagle Mountain Drive in Ellijay. Events are scheduled throughout the weekend and are listed below.

New York Says Thank You
Helping Georgia Tornado Survivors Rebuild: The American Spirit at Home

TIMING OF EVENTS: (All events will take place at the “Build An Ark” Barn, located at 27 Eagle Mountain Drive in Ellijay, Georgia – unless noted)
THURSDAY 7/28/11
11:20AM FDNY FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVE ATLANTA / AIRTRAN
1:00PM HONOR GUARD PROCESSION ACROSS GEORGIA FROM ATLANTA TO ELLIJAY
6:00PM COMMUNITY WELCOME KICK-OFF DINNER AT BARN

FRIDAY 7/29/11
8:00AM FLAG RAISING CEREMONY AT BARN – WORK BEGINS THROUGH 5PM
6:30PM VOLUNTEER DINNER AT BARN
8:00PM COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT AT BARN — “NEW YORK SAYS THANK YOU” FILM
(Rain alternative at Gilmer High School – 408 Bobcat Trail, Ellijay, GA)

SATURDAY 7/30/11
8:00AM WORK BEGINS THROUGH 5PM
12:00-3PM NATIONAL 9/11 FLAG ON DISPLAY AT GILMER HIGH SCHOOL (408 Bobcat Trail, Ellijay)
1:00PM FORMAL NATIONAL 9/11 FLAG STITCHING CEREMONY BEGINS
5:30PM “PAY IT FORWARD” CLOSING CEREMONY AT BARN
6:30PM VOLUNTEER DINNER AT BARN
7:00-10PM BLUEGRASS CONCERT AT BARN – COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEERS INVITED

SUNDAY 7/31/11
8:00AM 9/11 MEMORIAL BAGPIPE PROCESSION OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND VOLUNTEERS AT BARN
9:00AM COMMUNITY CELEBRATION SERVICE & MEMORIAL TREE DEDICATION
10:30AM FAREWELL BRUNCH AND VOLUNTEER SEND-OFF

About The New York Says Thank You Foundation:
Started in 2003 at the suggestion of a 5-year-old boy, The New York Says Thank You Foundation has
grown into the Nation’s largest direct service volunteer organization focused on the 9/11 Anniversary.
Each year around the 9/11 Anniversary, The New York Says Thank You Foundation sends hundreds of
volunteers from New York City along with disaster survivors from across the country to help rebuild
communities around the United States recovering from disaster.