RICHMOND – On Monday, May 11, 2026, the Virginia State Police (VSP) will receive a piece of steel recovered from Ground Zero at the World Trade Center (New York City), a historic artifact being presented by the Freedom Flag Foundation. The steel will become a permanent fixture at the Virginia State Police Academy. The donation takes place during National Police Week—when the nation honors fallen officers and recognizes those who continue to serve—and coincides with the upcoming 25th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. The 9/11 attacks resulted in the loss of nearly 3,000 lives – including over 70 responding law enforcement officers – in New York City, at the Pentagon (Arlington Co., Va.), and near Shanksville, Pa.
The Freedom Flag is Virginia’s Official Flag of Remembrance for 9/11 (VAC §1-510) and has also been adopted by Oklahoma and Delaware. The donation ceremony at VSP is part of the Freedom Flag Foundation’s National Freedom Flag and World Trade Center Steel Education program, which seeks to establish partnerships in all 50 states to educate the next generation about 9/11 using the powerful, symbolic elements of the Freedom Flag and of steel artifacts from the 92-95th floors of World Trade Center Tower 1. Freedom Flag designer Richard Melito’s brother, First Sergeant James Melito, also served with the Virginia State Police…