Freedom Flag Foundation Partners with Davies High School in National Freedom Flag Raising and World Trade Center Steel Education Program

(Fargo, ND) -- The Freedom Flag Foundation’s National Freedom Flag and World Trade Center Steel Education Program is establishing partnerships in all 50 states to educate the next generation about 9/11 using the Freedom Flag and World Trade Center Steel artifacts from the 92nd through 95th floors of Tower 1. Davies High School has agreed to be North Dakota’s Program representative for the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

As part of the Program, Davies High School will receive a 9/11 Freedom Flag to be flown annually on Patriot Day below the US Flag through the month of September. The Freedom Flag Foundation will also loan Davies High School a piece of WTC Steel recovered from Ground Zero for its use in educational outreach and display over the next year. Davies High School will also receive a copy of Unfurling the Freedom Flag – A 9/11 Story, which describes how the Freedom Flag went from a sketch on a napkin to become Virginia’s Official Flag of Remembrance for 9/11. Today, the Freedom Flag is our nation’s only codified 9/11 flag of remembrance, and it has been flown or displayed in over 1,000 schools and in nearly every state in the US. 

“What a feeling I had touching the World Trade Center steel. It was overwhelming, and I am so appreciative to be able to share this history, knowledge, and humanity with the students of Davies," said Loretta Wellentin, Social Studies instructor at Davies High School. "I was very honored on behalf of Davies High School to be asked to partner with this wonderful organization's mission to teach students about the magnitude of 9/11, but most importantly, I'm grateful for the opportunity to ensure that we will never forget those who lost their lives and those who responded heroically that day.” Wellentin, along with fellow Davies Social Studies instructor Bart Manson, have organized the Davies Freedom Flag Raising Ceremony.

The special flag raising ceremony, which takes place Friday at 9am includes:

• Freedom Flag Raising by the Fargo Police Honor Guard outside in front of the school followed by a moment of silence to commemorate all the victims and heroes of 9/11.
• Davies students Kya Benson, Emma and Lauren Lamp, and Jenezio Lagobey will recite the Ten Elements of the Freedom Flag.
• Davies Band will play the National Anthem, under the direction of Davies Band Director and recent Army Basic Training graduate Darcy Brandenburg.
• Davies students Owen Beller and Aidan Hansen will play a commemorative piece on the bagpipes.
• Presentation of Freedom Flags to various community organizations in remembrance of their heroic contributions. Representatives from the Fargo Police Department, Fargo Fire Department, Army National Guard, and Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans from the West Fargo VFW are expected to be on hand for the ceremony.

The WTC Steel (a section of the exterior column that supported floors 92 through 95 on the east face of the WTC Tower 1) is on loan from the Freedom Flag Foundation for one year; the artifact will be used as a primary source in the classroom and then be placed in a display case at Davies High School for all to view.

Davies High School Social Studies department will promote students' understanding and appreciation of the unique heroes from the 9/11 attacks as represented by the American Freedom Flag throughout the school year.