ADVISORY/American Flag From Ground Zero to Be Recognized in the Heartland.

Assignment Editors

ADVISORY...for Thursday (Sept. 5)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHEN:     Thursday, Sept. 5th, 2002

WHERE:    Doubletree Hotel Downtown Omaha -- 16th & Dodge Streets

-- 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.  Mayor Speaking at 1st National Tower - Public
-- 10:15 - 12:30 p.m.  Flag Raising at New 1st National Tower - Public

WHAT:     The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Omaha Post
          is proud and honored to present as their keynote speaker for
          their annual "Industry Day Conference," retired New York
          Police Sergeant Karl Hagstrom and the Miraculous World Trade
          Center Flag.

          The American flag was recovered from the wreckage at Ground
          Zero following the disaster of September 11th. The flag was
          then proudly flown from the mast of the aircraft carrier USS
          John C. Stennis during its battle deployment in Afghanistan.
          The scarred and tattered flag -- 18 feet wide and 12 feet
          tall -- was found by New York Police Sergeant Karl Hagstrom
          while he was on duty near the ruins of the North Tower days
          after the terrorist attack.

          The flag will be at the Doubletree for a ceremony from 9:00
          until 10:00, then the Pershing Rifles (ROTC) from Creighton
          University and the ROTC from Northwest High School will
          escort the flag from the Doubletree Hotel and hand it over
          to the City of Omaha Police and Fire Honor Guard to escort
          it to a flag raising ceremony at the new First National
          Tower. The Flag Detail from Offutt Air Force Base will lower
          and fold the flag at 12:30 p.m.

VISUALS:  The public is invited to view the flag raising event at 1st
          National Tower and honor the historic significance of the
          symbol of American freedom. SAME will present a check to
          Sergeant Hagstrom later in the day for the New York Police
          and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. The flag will
          return to New York City and be placed in a World Trade
          Center memorial museum.

WHY:      The Society of American Military Engineers Industry Day
          Conference will be held September 5th at the Doubletree
          Hotel in Downtown Omaha.  For additional information on this
          conference and SAME, please contact Jeff Williamson, URS,
          402/952-2550 or go online at www.same.org/omaha