Flags of Valor transforms Art Hill into one of the nation’s largest 9/11 tributes

It felt as if the heat beat the sun outside as Flags of Valor STL volunteers began planting the first of more than 7,500 American flags across Art Hill to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11. By 9:30 a.m., they were nearly done. In less than three hours on Saturday, September 5, Art Hill was transformed into one of the nation’s largest 9/11 memorials — a tradition held every five years since the 10th anniversary of the attacks as part of America’s Heartland Remembers’ Flags of Valor.

“An entire generation has grown up without firsthand memories of Sept. 11,” said Rick Randall, founder of America’s Heartland Remembers. “These 7,620 flags turn numbers into names, faces and stories. Remembrance is not passive. It is a promise to the fallen, their families and future generations.”

Each flag was handled with care. Volunteers wore white gloves as they positioned the flags and taped the tags of the fallen. A three‑person team worked on each flag, mindful of spacing and the direction of the identification tag. When a flag was installed, one member of the team said the name of the fallen before moving on to the next.

The memorial is free and open to the public Sept. 5–13.

Programming will include a performance of patriotic songs by cast members of “Come Away From Me,” which is presented by St. Louis area musical theater company Stages.

“Our hope is that the power of our collective voices will help our community and country continue to heal and remind us how strong we are together,” said Stages St. Louis Producing Artistic Director Gayle Holsman Seay.

The Stages performance will take place during the September 11 sunset gathering, which will bring members of the public together with Gold Star Families for an evening of reflection and remembrance. The gathering will also include a candlelight memorial, with an overnight reading of the names beginning at 9:11 p.m.

The field of flags and six large photo memorials honor all 2,977 people killed on Sept. 11, 2001. Thousands of additional flags recognize U.S. service members who died in the War on Terror, including 18 lost in 2026 during Operation Epic Fury.

“Flags of Valor is a breathtaking and dignified living memorial honoring the thousands of America’s fallen heroes since the tragic events of September 11, 2001,” Randall said. “This display brings comfort and pride to the families whose loved ones have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”

Flags for 412 first responders encircle the Grand Basin, each bearing a photograph and custom dog tag with the responder’s name, department and date of death.

“He was so handsome,” East St. Louis native Sandra Boone said as she placed a flag for Army PFC Kyle Gilbert of Vermont.

“Look at those eyes,” she added, reading the tag for Army Sgt. Leonard Simmons of North Carolina. “Hi Leonard.”

Boone was one of more than 1,200 volunteers who helped build the memorial by hand for Flags of Valor STL, presented by America’s Heartland Remembers.

Veterans Kareem Collins and Josh Tischler volunteered on behalf of their employer, Emerson.

Collins, an Army veteran, remembered exactly where he was on Sept. 11, 2001. He was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas.

“We were out in the field practicing battle drills, and they stopped the drills to tell us what was going on,” Collins said. “They pulled us in and made us wait for three days. We were waiting to get the word to deploy.”

He wasn’t part of the initial deployment but served in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

“I wanted to fight for my country and make sure we were safe,” Collins said.

Tischler, co‑chair of Emerson’s veterans resource group, was just entering high school when the attacks happened.

“I came up through the Air Force, and a lot of people who joined at the same time did it for the same reason,” Tischler said. “It was a response to this. It was part of the nation coming together. For me this means a lot, because it’s kind of where it all started.”

For both men, the memorial underscores that the casualties are more than numbers.

“Understanding that each flag is representative of a person — that’s probably the most important part,” Collins said.

Tischler agreed.

“Part of serving is being ready to make the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “This memorial brings the reality of that sacrifice close. You see that these are real people with real lives and real families.”

Boone was at work at Keeley Construction when the planes hit the towers. The company supports Flags of Valor STL, and she helped prepare flags five years ago.

“I had never gone out to install them, but I said, ‘I’m going this year,’” Boone said. “I overslept and was running late, but I made it. And I’m so glad I did.”

Reading the names left such an impression that she plans to bring her grandchildren.

“I started reading the names and seeing the faces and became so thankful,” Boone said. “Thankful to them for giving their lives to support our world, our country.”

Retired Navy Petty Officer Gladys Smith served 27 years “with glory and pride” and came to honor those who made the sacrifice she was prepared to make.

“I hope everyone can come out – and not forget that freedom is not free,” Smith said. “People lost lives. People have memories. This is a tribute — and even as you walk through, you will feel it in your heart and your mind will remember. This is very special.”

Smith helped prepare and plant flags. She said the Black community has a particular stake in honoring those who died in service.

“We have fought harder than almost any group to be accepted for who we are and remembered for what we do,” Smith said. “And for what our soldiers and sailors do every day. It is part of our culture and part of our lives.”

St. Louis‑area resident Krista Salvatore, a 9/11 survivor, was working inside World Trade Center Tower 2 when the attacks began. She evacuated minutes before the tower collapsed and now supports the memorial alongside St. Louis firefighters and her family.

She was on the 61st floor of Tower 2 when the plane hit Tower 1. During evacuation, she was on the 24th floor when Tower 2 was struck.

It was her second day at a new job with Morgan Stanley. She was 22.

“We were the largest tenant of the World Trade Center, and after the ’93 bombing they had done quarterly evacuation drills,” Salvatore said. “Everybody knew where to go, and it was very organized. We were the largest tenant but only lost seven employees — most of them security.”

She became emotional as she relived the moment.

“There was a point where we really didn’t think we were going to make it,” she said. “It was a lot to take in. It was hard to understand what just happened.”

The morning culminated with remarks from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Tracy.

“Thank you to everyone who helped bring Flags of Valor to Art Hill and to those who carefully placed each flag here,” Tracy said. “This is a powerful tribute to the lives taken from us on September 11, 2001 — the heroes who answered the call and the families who continue to carry the loss.”

Tracy was a New York City Police Department commander at the time of the attacks.

“This moment is deeply personal,” he said. “I arrived after the towers had fallen and spent several weeks supporting the response and recovery efforts. I witnessed unimaginable devastation — but also extraordinary courage, compassion and unity.”

He recalled the collective courage that took place during the immediate aftermath. First responders ran toward danger. Strangers helped one another. People from across the country came together with the shared determination to serve, rebuild and remember.

“May we remember those we lost, stand with families forever changed and remain grateful for every person who answered the call,” Tracy said.