
On September 11, 2001, four airliners were hijacked by terrorists and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Over 3,000 people in New York City and Washington, D.C., including more than 400 police officers and firefighters were killed (9/11 Attacks). Raising the Flag at Ground Zero is a photograph by Thomas E. Franklin taken on September 11, 2001. The picture and was published in a newspaper called The Record. The photograph shows three New York City firefighters raising the American flag at Ground Zero of the World Trade Center, following the September 11 attacks. The image shows the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in New York City, which forever changed our country. When looking at the photo today, we see can see the destruction and devastation that took place on that unforgettable day. The background is filled with debris from fallen buildings. It is heart wrenching to realize that all of that debris was from standing buildings just a day before. There is no verbal information included but none is necessary because this iconic photo is well known in the United States. Raising the Flag at Ground Zero is not just a photo that mourns a great loss but also one that celebrates America’s enduring spirit. The photographer, Thomas E. Franklin, uses contrasts, bold colors, symbolism, and facial expressions to help instill a sense of hope in the American people in order to unite them in the tragedy.  

A person’s facial expression can tell a whole story in a photograph and give hints as to what the entire piece is about. As I look more closely at the photo I see the look of determination on the three firefighter’s faces to raise the flag. They are fighting to get the flag back to its original spot high in the sky because if they can restore the flag then they have a chance in rekindling confidence in the American People. The firefighters are covered in dirt and grime and probably exhausted but they are focusing on their task in order to honor our country. They didn’t have to raise the flag but their act of patriotism shows that the United States is a united country, that when shot down, it will fight to get back up. The overall message is to have hope even in the most unimaginable situations. Just having a glimmer of hope that life will get better can make any situation better. 

As a symbol of hope, American flag is the focal point in the photograph. The typical American flag is usually well kept and super clean. It stands high in the sky and does not get lowered unless there is a tragedy overseas and life is lost. The flag being on the ground represents the challenges America faced during 9/11. This is symbolic now because the flag was on the ground just after thousands of people just died. The flag in the photo is very dirty and shows the distress of war America has gone through. The bold red, white and blue colors of the flag are still visible though. This symbolizes hope because even though our country suffered great loss we are still the free nation we were before. It helps support the idea that we cannot be destroyed by terrorist attacks.

The overall design of the photo is asymmetrical because it shows the huge contrast between the foreground and the background. In the foreground there are three firefighters and the American flag that are very clear to see. The background that contains the rubble is cloudy from smoke and looks like it is kind of fading away. Also the color in the foreground is bright and colorful while the background is bland and grey. The foreground is more visually appealing to the eye then the background. People don’t want to see the debris and the fallen rubble because it is greatly saddening to see all the mass destruction and know that lives were lost because of this tragedy. The flag is visually appealing because the bright red, white, and blue colors make you feel happy inside and think of our great country. The story of the photo is that even with a background of destruction there are three people standing that survived this tragedy and are making a difference to show Americans that we are still the great nation we were before and that nothing can change that. There is more light on the firefighters and the flag in the foreground than on the debris in the background. It almost looks like a halo of light on the flag as if God were helping restore the flag to its proper spot. The design of the photo shows that light beats the dark and our nation is the light.

Thomas E. Franklin’s photograph not only captured the tragedy of 9-11 but gave the American people a reason to have hope. The facial expressions of the firefighters show how dedicated they are to our country and made it their mission to help the situation in the best way they can. The dirt and grime on the American flag show the wounds sustained during the tragedy. But the bold red, white, and blue color still visible to the audience represent the strength and courage America has get through this situation. The contrasts between the foreground and the background show the greater emphasis put on the foreground because it is more clear to see and is more visually appealing to the eye then the destruction in the background.  Raising the Flag at Ground Zero is an iconic image that is powerful in history because it unites the American people. Everyone was affected by this tragedy in some way so everyone could relate to the pain and the suffering on that fateful day. This photo does symbolize great sadness but it also is a way to honor our country and celebrate how far we have come. The flag being raised back to its intended spot in the sky shows the American people that we have the strength to come together as a nation to honor our country. This image brought out anger in the American people and showed that buildings can be destroyed but our spirit cannot. 
