Remembering 9/11/2001

In 2001, shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center towers in New York, Gary and Sheila Brand of Red Bud erected a 20 foot flag staff with a six foot by ten foot American flag on an overpass along State Route 159 south of Belleville that was under construction. At that time, the overpass was under construction by Illinois Excavators where Gary was employed. He added, “One of the workers asked me if we were at war. I replied, probably.” The flag was a gift to the Brands from Joe Hobbs, and originally had flown over the Kaskaskia Lock and Dam.