2,977 flags were placed along GMD in honor of each life lost during the 9/11 attacks.
By
Katie Johns
| 2:39 p.m. September 9, 2016
Longboat Key
Neighbors
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On the 93-degree afternoon of Sept. 9, eight employees of the Longboat Key Public Works Department drove up and down Gulf of Mexico Drive in golf carts.
They weren’t going for a joy ride or checking up on parks and utilities. They were placing 2,977 flags in the ground in honor of the 2,977 people who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks.
This simple act has been Longboat Key’s way of commemorating the attacks since 2002. Only one year has gone without flags, and it was because of weather. The idea, credited to Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren, was to create a solemn, yet powerful way to remember those who lost their lives, a press release from the chamber said. On the morning of 9/11 people will wake up and drive past the flags, but on Sept. 12 the flags will be gone. GMD is approximately 10 miles long, so in order to line the entire span, the flags are placed about 20 to 30 feet apart.
Frank Scrivani and Troy Wooten line GMD with flags on the afternoon of Sept. 9.
GMD was lined with 2,977 flags on Sept. 9. Each one represents a life that was lost during the 9/11 attacks.
Frank Scrivani drives a golf cart while lining GMD with American flags in honor of the 15-year anniversary of 9/11.
The Longboat Key Public Works Department began lining GMD with American flags on Sept. 9. The flags will be gone by Sept. 12.
Frank Scrivani sticks an American flag along GMD.
Troy Wooten and Frank Scrivani were one of four pairs that helped line GMD with flags.
Troy Wooten and Frank Scrivani helped place 2,977 flags along GMD on Sept. 9.
2,977 were placed 20-30 feet apart along GMD on Sept. 9.
Mark Richardson places an American flag along GMD on the afternoon of Sept. 9.
Mark Richardson and David Greene were one of four pairs that helped line GMD with flags on Sept. 9.
Mark Richardson sticks one of the 2,977 American flags into the ground along GMD.
Each flag along GMD represents a person who lost their life during the 9/11 attacks.
The idea of lining GMD with flags is to honor those who lost their lives in a powerful, yet solemn and low-key manner.
Lloyd Hine and Mike Ball travel down GMD placing American flags along their way in honor of 9/11.
Lloyd Hine and Mike Ball place American flags along GMD in honor of those who lost their life on 9/11.
Mike Ball places an American flag on the grass alongside GMD. This flag was just one of 2,977 placed in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11.
The Longboat Key Public Works Department has placed flags along GMD every year since 9/11 happened except for one year due to weather.
The lining of GMD is Longboat Key’s only official commemoration of 9/11.
2,977 flags were placed along GMD on Sept. 9 in order to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11.
