You could hear the sirens … see the flashing lights from a parade of fire and police vehicles … and smile, as person after person described goosebumps on their arms and the emotion in their hearts as The National 9/11 Flag made its way through the streets of Ellijay late Thursday afternoon. The procession from Marietta to the Build An Ark Animal Rescue site made only one scheduled stop: It was in Jasper, where a large crowd had gathered to get a glimpse of the flag. Pockets of children and families lined the procession route along Georgia State Highways 575 and 515 to wave to the emergency rescue workers who were escorting the flag. But perhaps the most poignant moment came when the flag arrived at the Build An Ark site where hundreds of volunteers from across the country have come to rebuild the property that was destroyed in an April 4th tornado.

Volunteers from the NewYorkSaysThankYou Foundation continually travel with the flag. Many of the volunteers are firefighters who responded to the 9/11 tragedy. They now donate their spare time to traveling across the country, organizing and overseeing the events in which the flag is on display. Within moments of the procession arriving at the animal rescue, the volunteers carried the red, white and blue national treasure and marched up to members of the Gilmer County Fire Department — giving local firefighters possession of the flag until this weekend’s rebuilding events are over on Sunday.

Firefighters then unfolded the massive flag, which roughly measures 20 feet high and 30.5 feet wide. Everyone on site had the honor of holding onto the flag’s edge as this national treasure unfolded before them. Unspoken emotion was evident on almost everyone’s face in the crowd. It was a moment in which the memories of the September 11 disaster collided with the reality of how the American spirit cannot be maimed.

The National 9/11 Flag is one of the largest American flags to fly above the wreckage at Ground Zero. Currently on a journey across America through the 10th Year Anniversary of 9/11, the goal of The National 9/11 Flag Tour is to display this historic flag at leading venues nationwide, to empower local service heroes in all 50 states with the privilege of stitching the flag back to its original 13-stripe format.

The flag will be on display Saturday from noon until 3p.m. at Gilmer High School, located at 408 Bobcat Trail in Ellijay. A formal ‘Flag Stitching Ceremony’ is set to begin at 1 p.m. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

911 National Flag at Build an Ark from Fetch on Vimeo.