History: Collapse Of The World Trade Center, September 11, 2001, Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States

Another flag, which had originally flown atop one of the towers, was recovered three days after the attacks and, owing to its poor condition, was turned over to the National Guard for its ceremonial destruction. The National Guard then discovered from a label that the flag was the property of the Port Authority, and instead of retiring the flag, returned it. It was then used during the memorial service of several first responders, and was flown during both the 2001 World Series and Super Bowl XXXVI. The flag was also used, controversially, in the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City. Initially the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to allow the flag to be used in ceremony, fearing it would be seen as too pro-American, overly patriotic, and create complications during future ceremonies. But an agreement was eventually reached between the event organizers and the IOC, which allowed the flag to be carried into Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium by both U.S. athletes and 9/11 first responders. The flag was carried into the stadium in silence, after which the flag bearers paused in front of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, allowing them to sing The Star-Spangled Banner, while a separate American flag was raised.
A number of flags from other countries were also recovered from the World Trade Center site. A New Zealand flag was presented to the then Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, by representatives of the New York City Fire Department. Two of the casualties were New Zealanders. Conservators mounted and framed the flag and it now hangs in the main stairwell of Parliament House, the main building of the New Zealand Parliament Complex. A Union flag of the United Kingdom was also recovered, and is now housed at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, England. The United Kingdom suffered the most casualties after the United States, with around 60 to 70 Britons killed during the attacks.