When daylight arrived on Sept. 10, townspeople in Old Saybrook awoke to find close to 3,000 flags placed on the Town Green, anonymously placed in obvious memorial to the lives lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Interspersed with the U.S. flags were several flags from other countries whose citizens lost their lives on 9/11.

By early morning, the display had already become a destination, drawing in visitors from throughout the town and from towns along the shoreline. Arriving in groups of two or three, the visitors could be seen taking in the memorial by quietly walking along the rows of flags.

At last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Carl Fortuna, Jr., read several letters of thanks to the town written by citizens and one from Lyme First Selectman Ralph Eno thanking the anonymous creators of the moving display. Eno was so moved by the tribute that he offered to help cover the costs to install or remove the flags, should any costs be incurred.