February 25, 2004

By: Don French
Website: http://www.1st-in-flags.com

Fifty pilots to fly their State flag to New York for 9/11 anniversary

To honor the memory of those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, one pilot from each of the fifty U.S. states will be chosen to fly an official state flag to New York City on September 11, 2002. The pilots will present the flags to the city of New York. It is part of an ambitious effort called Flight Across America, organized by Molly Peebles, a Washington State pilot.

“The Flight Across America is about bringing the nation together through the celebration of flight,” said Peebles, executive director and architect of the Flight. “The act of fifty pilots carrying their State flags across the country into New York City is symbolic of a nation coming together to stand in solidarity and to make the statement that tragedy does not have the last word. We are a resilient people capable of creating great possibilities, and the Flight Across America is one example.”

Pilots from all fifty states can apply to be a State Flag Bearer on the Flight Across America Web site. The successful applicant will be one who is willing to be a spokesperson for the Flight Across America, elicit participation from pilots and airports in their state, and who is honored to represent their home state.

Kirk Kleinholtz, a Washington State pilot, is the first pilot to be chosen as a State Flag Bearer. He was selected because of his lifetime love of flight and his leadership in the Washington Pilots Association, his enthusiasm for the vision of the Flight Across America event, his ability to share that vision with other Washington State pilots, and his sincere desire to honor the anniversary of 9/11 were also factors in his being chosen. “In my own flight across America” stated Kleinholtz, “I hope to honor the thousands of people killed or injured on 9/11, reclaim and promote the beautiful freedom of flight, and show by example why Americans coming together will always make this a wonderful country to call home.”

Also see: south american flags

About The Author:

Don French is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-flags.com.  The flags of the world are symbols of recognition full of beauty and color for each country.