Another mystery in the 9/11 ground zero flag disappearance has been solved.
Police learned how an Everett man came to possess the missing historical flag, and turn it in to officials.
An iconic 9/11 photo showed an American flag being raised by three New York City firefighters over Ground Zero. It disappeared several hours later, only to found in Everett over a decade later.
A man who identified himself as “Brian,” turned the flag into Everett Fire and gave few details about where he got the flag from. Detectives analyzed DNA and dirt and dust samples to confirm the flag was the missing one.
After seeing news coverage about the flag earlier this month, Brian Browne wrote detectives a letter explaining that he received the flag as a gift from a friend at a Veteran’s Day gathering in 2006.
He believes the flag changed hands several times from New York to Washington State, eventually landing in the hands of Browne’s friend.
"I was kind of honored to have a 9/11 flag," Browne told KING 5, "I didn't realize it was the 9/11 flag."
A Marine Corp. veteran, Browne also collects flags, and it remained in his collection until November 2014. At various times, it was stashed in his closet or in a freezer for preservation.
Browne realized what he had after watching an episode of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History. He noticed a distinguishing feature between his flag and the missing 9/11 flag featured in the episode – black tape and U-shaped metal piece at the lower grommet.
"I looked at my tablet and I'm sitting there just looking at this thing in the room," said Browne, referring to the flag, "I'm going, wow, really?"
Browne took the flag to a nearby fire station where staff compared it with pictures of the missing Ground Zero flag.
"When he zoomed in on it," said Browne, pausing, "You had to have been there. We just sort of stopped talking and all turned white.
"I was absolutely scared out of my wits."
Browne decided to turn the flag over to officials to give the flag back to its rightful owners.
“My only wish is that it never leaves its beautiful custom case,” Browne wrote. “It has too much sentimental value, and in my opinion is a very sacred piece to be shared and shown at the museum, never to leave hallowed ground.”
