by Rudy King, Public Information Officer

Port Authority electricians unfurled the world’s largest free-flying American flag at the George Washington Bridge in observance of Veterans Day on November 11, continuing an agency tradition that started on the first Veterans Day in 1947.  The flag weighs 450 pounds and is 90 feet long by 60 feet wide. It is housed inside the bridge’s New Jersey tower, and lowered and unfolded by GWB Electricians using a control system at the base of the arch on the upper-level deck.

Thanks to an abundance of wind, the flag could be seen waving with great determination over the world’s busiest crossing this Veterans Day.  Be sure to check out NJTV’s video coverage below of the flag unfurling, which includes interviews with GWB Electrician and retired Air Force veteran John O’Leary, Structural Maintainer John O’Brien, and Electrician Mauro Caputi.  For more pictures of the flag, check out Portfolio’s blog, “The World’s Largest Free-flying Flag from the World’s Busiest Bridge.”