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Saturday, September 15, 2001

U.S. flag fluttered in the wind from atop the fully extend ladder of fire truck 916 Friday, a tribute by the Albert Lea Fire Department and the city to the victims of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks.

&uot;Our guys really wish they could be out in New York City right now helping,&uot; said Fire Chief Rich Sydnes. &uot;We decided to do this to show our support. Fellow firefighters are like second families to a lot of us.&uot;

The short ceremony at the fire station was yet another example of the surge in support and patriotism across the city – best noticed by the display of the American flag.

Flags are flying at half-mast in front of government buildings, schools and businesses. Small flags can be seen flying on top cars and from the front porches of homes.

At Rainbow Foods, manager Brad Edwin said American flags are selling faster than they can keep them stocked. The floral department is getting requests for red, white and blue arrangements. The bakery is tracing patriotic icing on cakes.

&uot;I’ve been talking to a lot of people, and they’re rallying behind the flag. I think it’s just a little way people can show each other what they’re thinking about – what they care about,&uot; he said.

Edwin said he has ordered more flags, and hopes the surge in patriotism will last.

&uot;We have a flag on our own up at the store. Our plan is to leave it up until some justice comes out of all of this,&uot; he said.

Wal-Mart and K-Mart reported selling a combined 500,000 flags in two days from their stores across the country. Flag makers and manufacturers are adding workers to make more flags as quickly as possible.

&uot;We always seem to come back to the flag when the country is in trouble,&uot; said local American Legion Commander Bill Danielsen. &uot;Many of us consider those who died in the terrorist attacks the victims of wartime.&uot;

Danielsen said the American flag is often just a Fouth-of-July prop, until the nation is faced with adversity. The flag takes on new meaning when Americans are threatened.

&uot;Things have been so good for the nation for quite awhile. But then, suddenly, these attacks bring to light what we tend to take for granted – our security. Even in tranquil Midwest America, we can’t help but feel the sense of threat and rally together.&uot;

Police Chief Tom Menning stood with several of his officers during Friday’s service at the fire station. He said police officers around the country share the same solidarity that firefighters share.

He hopes that kind of bond – the bond that firefighers, police officers and soldiers feel – could somehow extend to all people in the country.

&uot;The attacks in New York and Washington D.C. did not just happen to two cities – they happened to the entire country. Everyone needs to come together after what has happened,&uot; he said.