A photograph of firefighters raising the U.S. flag amid World Trade Center debris was very nearly cut from the National September 11 Memorial and Museum display because it was deemed by the creative director as too patriotic.
That’s according to a new book, “Battle for Ground Zero” by Elizabeth Greenspan, due for release next month, The New York Post reported.
Michael Shulan called the photo too “rah-rah America,” Ms. Greenspan reported in her book. He also said: “I really believe that the way America will look best, the way we can really do best, is to not be Americans so vigilantly and so vehemently.”
In the end, the photo — shot by photographer Thomas Franklin — was included, The Blaze reported.
Mr. Shulan said to The Post that his goal was to “not reduce [9/11] down to something that was too simple, and in its simplicity would actually distort the complexity of the event, the meaning of the event.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.