Even before Sept 11, Americans had a unique relationship with the flag of their nation. In Britain, the Golden Jubilee and the World Cup contributed to a debate about claiming back ‘ownership’ of the Union Jack, which, along with the cross of St.George, enjoyed a ‘month in the sunshine’ during the summer of 2002. Unlike most people in Britain, however, Americans see their identity as interwoven and embedded in the Stars & Stripes. All citizens of America are obliged and ritually swear an oath, ‘The Pledge of Allegiance’, to the flag itself, the very symbol of “the Republic for which it stands.” Visiting New York that September 2001, I awoke on a scintillating morning to an image on the TV of a smoking tower where there should have been a 5-day weather forecast and then watched an orange fireball spew out of the second tower before there’d been time to wipe the first wave of disbelief out of my eyes. For the next week I roamed the street attempting to capture the mood, the shock, the grief. I gathered with friends and heard every shade of opinion. Most wanted to understand. Some wanted to go in, nuclear six-guns blazing. Words like “peace” and “forgiveness” were used as much as “hate” and “revenge”.

From the 11th, it was notable how many New Yorkers turned to the flag in response to an act they never had imagined would or could occur. Some sought comfort. Others defiance. For others it provided an opportunity to make a fast buck. It unified those who embraced it and polarized anyone who might question such a gesture. ‘Red, White & Blue is the new black’ was a frequently heard expression. Suddenly the flag was being draped from fire escapes, flown from lines strewn across streets, worn and sold in all shapes and forms, from pins and scarves to souvenir pens and emblazoned on T-shirts and sweaters. The images from that September set the scene. Though they do not exclusively depict the enveloping of the city in stars and stripes, they trace the signs in the dust of a shell-shocked city. 3 months later, beyond the conflict in Afghanistan, the ‘War on Terrorism’ - 'America’s New War' according to the TV - still on the agenda, views had hardened. New York spent a subdued Xmas. On New Year’s Day you could feel the palpable, collective sigh of relief as New Yorkers put 2001 behind them. The City began to breathe again.

Through that sombre Xmas and the buds of Spring, the pictures concentrate on the numerous forms that the elements of the flag came to encompass. Come April, the old New York feistiness had returned. City workers were demonstrating. People weren’t holding back their criticisms as much. There were still plenty of flags in evidence. But, as people began to shed their winter outfits, they also started to divest themselves of their security red, white and blue blankets. By the anniversary of the attack, voices of dissent were even more in evidence. The night before the memorial, peace campaigners gathered in Washington Square Park and other locations. Different banners were waved. The following day though, the predominant colours were once again red, white and blue. email: photos@barrymyers.co.uk the copyright of all the images, text and design on this website belongs to barry myers. they may not be copied or used without the permission and credit of the owner.