STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Staten Island conservative activist and artist wants to see a massive American flag installed at the site of the Sept. 11 memorial, and he’s not alone.
A Change.org petition posted Jan. 7 has garnered more than 57,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning calling for the installation of a 30-by-60-foot flag at the site where nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the 2001 terrorist attack.
During a Jan. 15 visit to the Sept. 11 memorial, LoBaido laid out a bit of his vision and why he wants to see the flag installed.
“One of my most prominent passions is America and our flag and what it represents,” he said. “This is my life. Everything I’ve done revolves around that and keeping patriotism alive.”
Artist Scott LoBaido poses for a photo at the 9/11 Memorial Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com|Paul Liotta)
The defining works of LoBaido’s career, in addition to the controversial projects for which he’s drawn attention and legal trouble, have been his painting of American flags across the country.
LoBaido has wanted to have a large flag at the 9/11 site since at least May when he unfurled a giant flag flown by a crane along West Street, adjacent to the 9/11 Memorial site.
He says 2026 is the perfect year to install the flag as it will be 9/11’s 25th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
In addition to the petition signatures, the local artist has drawn financial support for the project with businessman Marcus Lemonis, best known as the CEO of Camping World, signing on to fund the flag’s installation.
Lemonis, who could not be reached by the time of publication, has also drawn some controversy for flying massive American flags outside Camping World locations in violation of some local governments’ regulations, according to a Fox Business report.
Similar issues have played out in relation to flags at the 9/11 memorial, including in the 2010s when multiple firefighter organizations complained about the general lack of flags at the memorial site.
On Jan. 15. the Advance/SILive.com identified three flags around what was once the 16-acre World Trade Center site, including one in front of Oculus Plaza and two that fly over the 8-acre 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
A spokesperson for the private organization that runs the memorial and museum said more flag installations are planned for this year. The spokesperson did not address a question about the organization’s position on LoBaido’s idea.
“The 9/11 Memorial & Museum honors the best of American heroism and commemorates the lives lost on September 11, 2001,” the spokesperson said. “Two American flags proudly fly over the Memorial year-round and many are featured prominently in exhibitions in the museum, including new, planned installations for America250 and the 25th anniversary of 9/11.”