An enormous marketing campaign is beneath solution to set up a everlasting towering American flag over the center of Floor Zero — with the assistance of TV’s “The Fixer’’ billionaire Marcus Lemonis.
The erecting of the large flagpole that includes “Outdated Glory” would mark the twenty fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror assaults in Decrease Manhattan this yr in addition to the 250th birthday of the USA.
Greater than 86,000 Individuals have already signed on to a change.org petition in help of the flag marketing campaign.
Conservative artist Scott LoBaido made a presentation to the Nationwide September 11 Memorial & Museum final week pushing for the flag challenge, and businessman Marcus Lemonis — previously of the CNBC actuality present “The Revenue” and now the star of Fox’s “The Fixer” — has pledged to select up the prices.
Lemonis stated there’s no excuse to not set up the flagpole as a result of he’s footing the invoice.
”I will probably be glad to pay for the 150-foot flagpole,” he stated. “I would like you to inform me when and the place, however
you may rely on it. I’ll deal with the invoice.”
Lemonis is an professional on flying flags.
Gigantic flagpoles soaring130 ft excessive are mounted outdoors 200 of Tenting World dealerships, the agency he co-founded.
Some states and localities sued, complaining that flagpoles and flags had been too large.
All of the flags are nonetheless up, he stated.
“I wish to be sure placing the flagpole at Floor Zero truly occurs,” Lemonis stated.
The proposal includes a 150-foot flagpole with a 30- by 60-foot flag put in at Floor Zero close to the Freedom Tower as a long-overdue tribute to 9/11 victims and its first responders.
“This reminiscence ought to be honored on daily basis, not solely on anniversaries, and we should always by no means be ashamed to show our flag proudly,” LoBaido stated.
“That is about greater than a flag,” he stated. “It’s about guaranteeing that each American, and each customer from around the globe, is reminded that even in our darkest hour, we stood collectively.
“As we method America’s 250th birthday and the twenty fifth anniversary of 9/11, we owe it to the victims, the households, and our nation to create a logo that displays our unity, power and gratitude.”
He stated the set up would value $150,000, plus $2,500 to $3,000 to exchange flags three or 4 occasions a yr that get broken by the climate.
There are two smaller flags on the grounds which are barely noticeable, he stated.
Massimo DiDonna, who chairs the muse for fallen firefighter Carl V. Bini, stated, “I’m keen about elevating a flagpole at Floor Zero as a result of it’s greater than a monument, it’s a promise. A promise that our unity stands taller than our tragedy, and that our power will all the time rise increased than our grief.”
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) additionally endorsed the flag marketing campaign in a letter to LoBaido.
“Scott’s proposed flag set up is a patriotic tribute to the victims of September 11, 2001 and the sacrifices of our first responders who, to at the present time, proceed to succumb to 9/11 associated sicknesses,” Malliotakis stated.
Almost 3,000 Individuals had been killed throughout coordinate terror assaults on 9/11 on the World Commerce Heart website, the Pentagon and on Flight 93.
Of the entire, 2,753 died at Floor Zero, together with 2,220 civilians, 343 firefighters, 23 NYPD officers and 37 Port Authority cops.
The Facilities for Illness Management reported final yr that greater than 8,200 enrollees within the World Commerce Well being Program have died, together with practically 6,000 responders.
Of these, 3,767 members who died, together with 2,388 responders, had 9/11-related most cancers. The complete eclipses the two,977 individuals killed on 9/11.
