ABSTRACT
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, millions of Americans expressed their solidarity and mourning by interacting with the symbols of their nation. This was perhaps most visible in the manifold ways that the national flag was employed and presented in response to the tragedy. The flag was raised, lowered and waved; flown from buildings, porches and balconies; pasted on to windows, walls and doors; pinned to suits, shirts and sweaters; stitched on to T-shirts and school bags; and even draped over the columns of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition to such spontaneous performances of national sentiment, the collective need to perform the nation in response to the tragedy also gave rise to new national rituals of commemoration, such as the moment of silence that the president formally asks American citizens to observe annually on 11 September — now officially designated as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.
