Review & Giveaway: 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag – Amanda Davis

I received this book for free from Review Book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Discover the inspiring story of the American flag that flew over Ground Zero, traveled across all fifty states as it was repaired, and returned to New York as a restored symbol of unity.

In the days following September 11th, a 30-foot American flag hung torn and tattered at 90 West Street, across from Ground Zero. A few weeks later, the flag was taken down by a construction crew and tucked away in storage, where it stayed for nearly seven years.

The flag was brought out of storage in 2008 when the New York Says Thank You Foundation headed to Greensburg, Kansas, a town nearly destroyed by a tornado. NYSTY brought the flag with them, sparking a grassroots restoration effort that traveled over 120,000 miles across all fifty states, bringing together thousands of people, and helping America heal and rebuild . . . hand by hand, thread by thread, one stitch at a time.

This book is the story of that journey, a journey that ended at the opening of the National September 11 Museum, where the flag remains today. Along the way, the flag was restored using pieces of retired flags from every state—including a piece of the flag that Abraham Lincoln was laid on after he was shot at Ford's Theater and threads from the original Star-Spangled Banner flag, which flew at Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem. The pieces and threads were stitched in by military veterans, first responders, educators, students, community-service heroes, and family members of 9/11 victims, among others. At each stop, communities came together to remember, to heal, and to unite.

I still remember that morning of September 11, 2001 – which started as a typical morning for me until I received a message on my beeper. Yes, I’m dating myself, but it was a fancy beeper that gave news updates to defense. As soon as I received the alert, I turned on the TV only to watch a plane fly into a building. It was a surreal moment.

30,000 Stitches by Amanda Davis and Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport is an uplifting story of a nation coming together to repair the tattered 9/11 flag, which became a healing experience for the World.

I would recommend this book for all ages to read. This book reminds us what can happen when people work together to “repair” a Nation.

Reviewed by: Orsayor

Question: Where were you on September 11, 2001?

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