{"id":108456,"date":"2026-01-22T11:56:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T11:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/108456\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T11:56:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T11:56:27","slug":"petition-to-install-giant-american-flag-at-9-11-memorial-gets-nearly-40k-signatures-in-less-than-10-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/108456\/","title":{"rendered":"Petition to install giant American flag at 9\/11 memorial gets nearly 40K signatures in less than 10 days"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s not alone.<\/p>\n

A Change.org petition posted Jan. 7<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my most prominent passions is America and our flag and what it represents,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is my life. Everything I\u2019ve done revolves around that and keeping patriotism alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LoBaidoArtist Scott LoBaido poses for a photo at the 9\/11 Memorial Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025.(Advance\/SILive.com|Paul Liotta)<\/p>\n

The defining works of LoBaido\u2019s career, in addition to the controversial projects for which he\u2019s drawn attention and legal trouble<\/a>, have been his painting of American flags across the country<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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<\/a>, adjacent to the 9\/11 Memorial site.<\/p>\n

He says 2026 is the perfect year to install the flag as it will be 9\/11\u2019s 25th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the nation\u2019s founding.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s installation. <\/p>\n

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\u2019 regulations, according to a Fox Business report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s position on LoBaido\u2019s idea. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe 9\/11 Memorial & Museum honors the best of American heroism and commemorates the lives lost on September 11, 2001,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cTwo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n