ORLANDO, Fla. – Volunteers placed 17,000 American flags at the Dr. Phillips for the Performing Arts Center early Friday to honor military veterans on 9/11.
Volunteers teamed up with the Camaraderie Foundation, which provides assistance to veterans, to post the flags.
The group said it chose the number 17,000 to honor how many service members suffering from traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder have returned home from deployment since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer also placed some flags, saying the city can stake claim to being one of the most veteran-friendly communities in the country.
"We respect our veterans, and it shows when people come out at 5:30 in the morning to clean 17,000 flags," Dyer said.
The group said it also wants the flags to serve as a reminder about the importance of helping service members and honoring bravery.