Never before has the American flag seemed so ubiquitous.
Before Sept. 11, even the one-day revelry of firework displays and backyard barbecues typical of Fourth of July celebrations did not exhibit such patriotic flourish.
But now, flags hang proudly on the outside of nearly every building, cars parade past, antennas adorned with miniature flags, and traditional patriotic choral songs like "God Bless America" blare from your roommate's computer.
"I'm not usually patriotic," admits third-year College student Heather Calkin, but the tragedy of the terrorist attacks inspired her and her Lambeth roommate, third-year College student Nikki Rohrbaugh, to make a late-night expedition to CVS to procure a pack of construction paper. Their objective: to create an American flag.
"The attacks made us think more about our country and showing support for America," Rohrbaugh said. "The terrorists wanted to make people afraid and we wanted to show that we weren't afraid and that we were proud to be American."
After about two hours of construction, Rohrbaugh and Calkin's large handmade flag was complete - taped to their suite window overlooking the Lambeth Commons area.
"It's one thing to buy a flag and put it up, but we put effort and personal care into it to make it more significant," Rohrbaugh said. "All of us could have had people that died."
For both Calkin and Rohrbaugh, the surge of patriotism around Grounds has helped renew their sense of pride in America.
"I think before, it was just one of those things people put out on the Fourth of July, but if you think about it there are 50 stars; those are for 50 states," Rohrbaugh said. "We were founded on freedom, on that basic principle."
A new reverence for the red, white and blue also has touched the Lawn, where residents have hung flags and other patriotic memorabilia on their doors.
Lawn resident and fourth-year College student Brandon Lloyd was able to purchase a flag from a hardware store the day after the bombings. Even though Lloyd was "raised very patriotic," he still acknowledged that it "gave him chills" to walk down Rugby Road, where some fraternity and sorority houses are draped in American flags.
"I've been here for four years, and it's [Rugby Road] such a common site, but to see everyone rallying around the flag ... it's pretty inspirational," Lloyd said.
Behind him, a flag hangs from his Lawn room door. Lloyd believes that displays such as his help inspire "people to support the actions against terrorism."
And even the Snyder tennis courts - usually confined to a display of athletic prowess - now are garnered in letters of remembrance and withered flowers.
The memorial is the Architecture School-sponsored fusion of mourning and patriotism and was erected after the attacks. Architecture Dean Karen Van Lengen said that the new sense of patriotism is part of the national grieving process.
"It's only natural, out of respect for the many American lives that were lost and affected by this tragedy," Van Lengen said.
The memorial wall is adorned with about 20 flags in addition to the other mementos. "The flag carries a certain symbolism that relates to the idea of democracy," Van Lengen said. "In the long run we have to redefine patriotism. The flags will come down ... the work ahead is to begin to build a new kind of democracy that is more inclusive of a global culture."
Even Alderman Library has a historical 48-starred flag on display above its front circulation desk. The flag - originally from the Stettinius branch of Special Collections - was first hung in the office of Edward Stettinius. He was Secretary of State in 1944 and was also a delegate at the Yalta conference.
Doug Moseley, an Alderman librarian, said he was inspired to display the flag to the public by seeing other flags pictured on television at Ground Zero.
"The flag put in front of the Pentagon and at the ruins of the World Trade Center gave me a desire to honor those people who died or were injured in the attacks," Moseley said. "Ideally the flag should be a symbol of unity, our common beliefs and ideals as American citizens. It's also a symbol of past sacrifices."
Moseley added that the particular historic nature of this flag "reflects on the unity of the American people during World War II and that the same spirit of sacrifice and unity will be needed to combat terrorism."
Melissa Norris, the public relations coordinator at Alderman, said putting up the flag is an appropriate way to show patriotism.
"We also felt that it had special significance because it's a flag that would have been flown at the time of Pearl Harbor and many people are likening this attack to the one on Pearl Harbor," Norris said.
Local businesses in the Charlottesville area also have felt the impact of the community's patriotic response to the tragedy.
The Charlottesville Wal-Mart on Route 29 sold out of their flags around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, and is still sold out despite three additional shipments which all have been wiped out within 15 minutes of the store receiving them.
A manager at the Charlottesville Wal-Mart reported getting about 20 calls an hour last week from customers asking whether the store had flags in stock. Not only that, but the store ran out of red, white and blue ribbon. In addition, red, white and blue merchandise, especially Christmas lights and crafts, have been rapidly selling out since Sept. 11.
The increase in patriotism also has expanded to scores of Charlottesville radio listeners. Bill Thomas, who works for Country 99.7 WCYK, has received many requests for patriotic songs in the past two weeks. He noticed that the patriotic surge is "huge, especially with a country audience." Thomas said that specifically Lee Greenwood's rendition of "God Bless the U.S.A." frequently is requested. Even now, nearly two weeks after the tragedy, the calls and requests, "haven't faded out at all. I have people who are pretty emotional call every day."
Since Sunday the flags in front of the Rotunda and across the country have flown at full mast once more to signify an end to the official period of national mourning. But for many at the University, the flag will forever be linked to the memory of the horrors and losses of Sept. 11. Perhaps for many the flag more strongly epitomizes democracy and freedom, but to Lloyd, the "meaning for me has not changed, it still stands for the people who have died to give me the freedoms that I have."
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