“The “Freeport Flag Ladies” Since September 11, 2001 Elaine Greene, Joann Miller, and Carmen Footer have lived and breathed the American flag, reshaping their lives as a direct response to the September 11th attacks. Each Tuesday morning, they take their patriotic message to the corner of School and Main Streets in Freeport, Maine where they wave flags and greet passing cars with a smile. Over the past seven years, their mission has expanded to include other activities, such as greeting troop flights at Bangor International Airport and Pease International Trade Port, sending care packages to service men and women overseas, and attending local military and veterans’ functions. These three retired, divorced women have lived together since 1993, essentially becoming a family through the years. Their work with the troops, supported almost entirely through their own financial resources, has evolved into an all-consuming endeavor, with the women even dressing exclusively in red, white, and blue. Documentary photographer Kelly Creedon met the “Freeport Flag Ladies” during her semester at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine. Creedon was intrigued by the ideas of patriotism and trauma, collective and personal. In her inquiries with various local veterans’ organization she came across the “Freeport Flag Ladies”. Working with a fellow Salt student, Creedon spent winter and spring of 2008 documenting the life and mission of the Flag Ladies. Excerpts from the project were first exhibited as part of the group show “Reverb” at the Space Gallery in Portland, Maine, in May of 2008. Ms. Creedon completed the graduate study program in documentary photography at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, where she was awarded first prize in the Institute’s photography competition and received a scholarship to fund her studies. Her recent work has focused on issues of immigration, labor, and economic and social justice, and her clients and partner organizations include the Christian Science Monitor, the Portland Press Herald, SEIU Local 615, City Life/Vida Urbana, and WBUR’s Radio Boston. She was recently awarded a Puffin Foundation grant for emerging artists to continue her work documenting communities affected by the foreclosure crisis in the greater Boston area. For more of her work, please visit her website: www.kellycreedon.com. These photos are displayed courtesy of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage1/514383617_mK5m6-Ti.jpg http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/gallery/7889558_3C77w/ 2009-04-26T22:10:47Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Elaine Greene, one of the Freeport Flag Ladies, salutes an oncoming vehicle on a chilly Tuesday morning. The Freeport Flag Ladies have been waving their flags on the corner of School and Mai ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514383617_mK5m6" title="Elaine Greene, one of the Freeport Flag Ladies, salutes an oncoming vehicle on a chilly Tuesday morning. The Freeport Flag Ladies have been waving their flags on the corner of School and Mai ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage1/514383617_mK5m6-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Elaine Greene, one of the Freeport Flag Ladies, salutes an oncoming vehicle on a chilly Tuesday morning. The Freeport Flag Ladies have been waving their flags on the corner of School and Mai ..." title="Elaine Greene, one of the Freeport Flag Ladies, salutes an oncoming vehicle on a chilly Tuesday morning. The Freeport Flag Ladies have been waving their flags on the corner of School and Mai ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:54Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage1/514383617_mK5m6-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />The Freeport Flag Ladies (from right to left, Elaine Greene, JoAnn Miller, and Carmen Footer) are joined by a neighbor (far left) during their regular Tuesday morning vigil. Despite cold, wi ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#520788525_ziQKQ" title="The Freeport Flag Ladies (from right to left, Elaine Greene, JoAnn Miller, and Carmen Footer) are joined by a neighbor (far left) during their regular Tuesday morning vigil. Despite cold, wi ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage2/520788525_ziQKQ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="The Freeport Flag Ladies (from right to left, Elaine Greene, JoAnn Miller, and Carmen Footer) are joined by a neighbor (far left) during their regular Tuesday morning vigil. Despite cold, wi ..." title="The Freeport Flag Ladies (from right to left, Elaine Greene, JoAnn Miller, and Carmen Footer) are joined by a neighbor (far left) during their regular Tuesday morning vigil. Despite cold, wi ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:54Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage2/520788525_ziQKQ-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Elaine Greene, left, and Carmen Footer, right, suit up for the elements on a Tuesday morning before heading up to the hill. Despite cold, wind, rain, and snow, the Flag Ladies have stood the ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#520788536_NABgQ" title="Elaine Greene, left, and Carmen Footer, right, suit up for the elements on a Tuesday morning before heading up to the hill. Despite cold, wind, rain, and snow, the Flag Ladies have stood the ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage3/520788536_NABgQ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Elaine Greene, left, and Carmen Footer, right, suit up for the elements on a Tuesday morning before heading up to the hill. Despite cold, wind, rain, and snow, the Flag Ladies have stood the ..." title="Elaine Greene, left, and Carmen Footer, right, suit up for the elements on a Tuesday morning before heading up to the hill. Despite cold, wind, rain, and snow, the Flag Ladies have stood the ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:54Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage3/520788536_NABgQ-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Elaine Greene takes a nap in the back of the Freeport Flag Ladies van on the way to Bangor International Airport. The Flag Ladies have logged many long hours on the road traveling to meet th ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#520788552_6ULfX" title="Elaine Greene takes a nap in the back of the Freeport Flag Ladies van on the way to Bangor International Airport. The Flag Ladies have logged many long hours on the road traveling to meet th ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage4/520788552_6ULfX-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Elaine Greene takes a nap in the back of the Freeport Flag Ladies van on the way to Bangor International Airport. The Flag Ladies have logged many long hours on the road traveling to meet th ..." title="Elaine Greene takes a nap in the back of the Freeport Flag Ladies van on the way to Bangor International Airport. The Flag Ladies have logged many long hours on the road traveling to meet th ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage4/520788552_6ULfX-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Carmen Footer, center, and JoAnn Miller, right, welcome a line of troops as they arrive in Bangor International Airport. The Freeport Flag Ladies regularly travel to Bangor to offer their th ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514380919_KBsYu" title="Carmen Footer, center, and JoAnn Miller, right, welcome a line of troops as they arrive in Bangor International Airport. The Freeport Flag Ladies regularly travel to Bangor to offer their th ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage5/514380919_KBsYu-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Carmen Footer, center, and JoAnn Miller, right, welcome a line of troops as they arrive in Bangor International Airport. The Freeport Flag Ladies regularly travel to Bangor to offer their th ..." title="Carmen Footer, center, and JoAnn Miller, right, welcome a line of troops as they arrive in Bangor International Airport. The Freeport Flag Ladies regularly travel to Bangor to offer their th ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage5/514380919_KBsYu-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Elaine Greene, JoAnn Miller, and Carmen Footer in the ladies room at Bangor International Airport. The women travel to Bangor as well as Pease International Airport in Portsmouth, New Hampsh ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514380923_89P8f" title="Elaine Greene, JoAnn Miller, and Carmen Footer in the ladies room at Bangor International Airport. The women travel to Bangor as well as Pease International Airport in Portsmouth, New Hampsh ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage6/514380923_89P8f-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Elaine Greene, JoAnn Miller, and Carmen Footer in the ladies room at Bangor International Airport. The women travel to Bangor as well as Pease International Airport in Portsmouth, New Hampsh ..." title="Elaine Greene, JoAnn Miller, and Carmen Footer in the ladies room at Bangor International Airport. The women travel to Bangor as well as Pease International Airport in Portsmouth, New Hampsh ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage6/514380923_89P8f-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Elaine Greene, center, photographs a line of troops as they arrive to Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine. As a complimentary service to the troops and their families, the Freeport ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514380927_vHzZV" title="Elaine Greene, center, photographs a line of troops as they arrive to Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine. As a complimentary service to the troops and their families, the Freeport ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage7/514380927_vHzZV-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Elaine Greene, center, photographs a line of troops as they arrive to Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine. As a complimentary service to the troops and their families, the Freeport ..." title="Elaine Greene, center, photographs a line of troops as they arrive to Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine. As a complimentary service to the troops and their families, the Freeport ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage7/514380927_vHzZV-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />A member of the Armed Forces shows off his Hawaiian Love tattoo in the office of the Maine Troop Greeters at Bangor International Airport. The office is staffed by volunteer Troop Greeters, ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514380929_E5Bmm" title="A member of the Armed Forces shows off his Hawaiian Love tattoo in the office of the Maine Troop Greeters at Bangor International Airport. The office is staffed by volunteer Troop Greeters, ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage8/514380929_E5Bmm-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="A member of the Armed Forces shows off his Hawaiian Love tattoo in the office of the Maine Troop Greeters at Bangor International Airport. The office is staffed by volunteer Troop Greeters, ..." title="A member of the Armed Forces shows off his Hawaiian Love tattoo in the office of the Maine Troop Greeters at Bangor International Airport. The office is staffed by volunteer Troop Greeters, ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage8/514380929_E5Bmm-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />The Freeport Flag Ladies, from left JoAnn Miller, Elaine Greene, and Carmen Footer, chatting over dinner at their home in Freeport, Maine. The three women, who have lived together for well o ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514380931_Vuxd5" title="The Freeport Flag Ladies, from left JoAnn Miller, Elaine Greene, and Carmen Footer, chatting over dinner at their home in Freeport, Maine. The three women, who have lived together for well o ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage9/514380931_Vuxd5-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="The Freeport Flag Ladies, from left JoAnn Miller, Elaine Greene, and Carmen Footer, chatting over dinner at their home in Freeport, Maine. The three women, who have lived together for well o ..." title="The Freeport Flag Ladies, from left JoAnn Miller, Elaine Greene, and Carmen Footer, chatting over dinner at their home in Freeport, Maine. The three women, who have lived together for well o ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage9/514380931_Vuxd5-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Carmen Footer hugs Master Sergeant Faafetai Mamea in a show of support and gratitude for his service. Mamea, who is headed to Afghanistan from Maine’s Bangor International Airport, is star ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514380935_xoouD" title="Carmen Footer hugs Master Sergeant Faafetai Mamea in a show of support and gratitude for his service. Mamea, who is headed to Afghanistan from Maine’s Bangor International Airport, is star ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage10/514380935_xoouD-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Carmen Footer hugs Master Sergeant Faafetai Mamea in a show of support and gratitude for his service. Mamea, who is headed to Afghanistan from Maine’s Bangor International Airport, is star ..." title="Carmen Footer hugs Master Sergeant Faafetai Mamea in a show of support and gratitude for his service. Mamea, who is headed to Afghanistan from Maine’s Bangor International Airport, is star ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage10/514380935_xoouD-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Elaine Greene, Carmen Footer, and JoAnn Miller, also known as the Freeport Flag Ladies, rest their flags behind the door at the end of the day in their Freeport home. As a part of their miss ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514380942_KFXjx" title="Elaine Greene, Carmen Footer, and JoAnn Miller, also known as the Freeport Flag Ladies, rest their flags behind the door at the end of the day in their Freeport home. As a part of their miss ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage11/514380942_KFXjx-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Elaine Greene, Carmen Footer, and JoAnn Miller, also known as the Freeport Flag Ladies, rest their flags behind the door at the end of the day in their Freeport home. As a part of their miss ..." title="Elaine Greene, Carmen Footer, and JoAnn Miller, also known as the Freeport Flag Ladies, rest their flags behind the door at the end of the day in their Freeport home. As a part of their miss ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage11/514380942_KFXjx-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com">aschcenter</a><br />Carmen Footer, right, stands with a neighbor greeting cars on the corner of School and Main Streets on a Tuesday morning. Friends and neighbors often join the Flag Ladies in their weekly vig ...</p><p><a href="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/7889558_3C77w#514380938_55YKK" title="Carmen Footer, right, stands with a neighbor greeting cars on the corner of School and Main Streets on a Tuesday morning. Friends and neighbors often join the Flag Ladies in their weekly vig ..."><img src="http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage12/514380938_55YKK-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Carmen Footer, right, stands with a neighbor greeting cars on the corner of School and Main Streets on a Tuesday morning. Friends and neighbors often join the Flag Ladies in their weekly vig ..." title="Carmen Footer, right, stands with a neighbor greeting cars on the corner of School and Main Streets on a Tuesday morning. Friends and neighbors often join the Flag Ladies in their weekly vig ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-26T22:14:55Z aschcenter http://aschcenter.smugmug.com http://aschcenter.smugmug.com/Other/Kelly-CreedonFreeport-Flag/KCreedonImage12/514380938_55YKK-Th.jpg