ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Nearly 3,000 American flags are lining one Altamonte Springs neighborhood this week, each one honoring a life lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
The 2,977 flags stretch along Academy Oaks Place, creating a powerful tribute 25 years after the attacks.
Neighbors say they want to make sure the people behind those numbers are never forgotten.
“Seems like people are trying to divide us. This is something that we can all get behind,” Nathan Classon said.
The man behind the 2,977 flags is Mitch Krauss, a Central Florida attorney who once lived in New York and lost a friend that day.
Krauss worked with neighbors to line the community with flags.
Each one represents an individual lost on 9/11, serving as a powerful visual reminder of the lives changed forever.
“This year, we put it throughout the entire neighborhood. 1,100 linear feet of flags,” Krause said.
Andrew Lester learned about 9/11 in school. Inspired by history, he now plans to become a firefighter.
“I was born in 2004, so I was three years late. So, (I am) learning through my history classes,” Lester said.
Neighbor Alicia Franke likes seeing the display while walking her dog and reinforces a vital message: never forget.
“I think it’s important to remember things like this so that they don’t happen again,” Franke said.
Organizers plan to keep the stunning tribute fully intact through the anniversary of the attacks, ensuring the massive display remains standing until after Sept. 11t to allow locals and visitors ample time to pay their respects.