Americans made a promise to never forget the 2,977 victims of the September 11th attacks. They also promised to honor those that stepped in to help. For Michigan-born historical artist Rick Herter, painting was his way to digest the tragedy and preserve what happened that day.
Herter painted the F-16s that arrived to protect New York City after the attacks. In the process he met up with North Dakota Airmen, nicknamed the Happy Hooligans, and learned their story. They flew through empty U.S. skies to the Pentagon the day of the attacks.
“Video later in the day showed an F-16 flying right over the south parking lot of the Pentagon. Well of course that was Dean’s jet. I had a lot of Pentagon employees who through the years told me, ‘Hey, we were evacuated to the south parking lot as the building was on fire and we saw this F-16 fly over and shouts went up. It was this giant roar in the Pentagon. Yeah, we’ve got our guys here,’” said Herter.
Herter painted “First Pass, Defenders Over Washington,” depicting Lt. Col. Dean Eckmann looking back at the Pentagon as he flies over the Washington D.C. skyline. (Rick was named AFHF Air and Space Artist for Life in a ceremony last May. Permission from artist)
On Patriot Day
, the flag of the United States is flown at half-staff at the White House and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments throughout the world; Americans are also encouraged to display flags in and outside their homes. Additionally, a moment of silence is observed to correspond with the 9-11 attacks, beginning at 8:46 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), the time the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Patriot Day is not a federal holiday; schools and businesses remain open in observance of the occasion, although memorial ceremonies for the 2,977 victims are often held.