OneAmerica Presents U.S. Flag to Sept. 11 First Responders from Indiana

OneAmerica today presented its long-displayed U.S. Garrison flag to members of Indiana Task Force One (INTF-1), one of 28 elite rescue teams across the country designed to quickly assemble and respond to catastrophes. The flag became a year-round fixture in the OneAmerica Tower lobby following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Recently, a permanent, public art tribute to the flag replaced the flag during lobby renovations.

“The American flag is an important symbol of who we are at OneAmerica. From the top of our Downtown Indianapolis tower to our walking flag used in parades, we are proud to display our Stars and Stripes, and we respect and cherish those who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting our citizens,” said OneAmerica President and CEO Scott Davison.“When the time came to find a new home for our well-loved flag, we could think of no better caretakers than our local heroes who responded in New York on 9/11."

INTF-1 is a nearly 200-member U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency search and rescue team formed in the early 1990s. In 2001, 62 Hoosiers from the task force were deployed to the World Trade Center in New York City following the twin towers collapse.

A group of OneAmerica employees who are U.S. military veterans presented the flag to INTF-1 so that it may now be housed, displayed and preserved at the INTF-1 command center near Indianapolis International Airport.

“This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, and given its connection to our deployment in 2001, we are proud to give this symbolic flag a new home,” said Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Thomas Neal, who leads INTF-1 and was a commander of the 9/11 team.

As a tribute to the 20-by-38-foot flag and the role it continues to play in the company’s culture, OneAmerica commissioned a floating, 16-piece patriotic installation by local artist Walter Knabe. 

The illuminated interior banner sculpture faces the high-traffic intersection of Ohio and Illinois streets in Downtown Indianapolis and is part of $2 million in renovations designed to create a more open, engaging atmosphere throughout the lower level of the tower. 

Other changes include acoustical panels, lighting features, and common areas created to encourage conversation, collaboration and community interaction. New amenities to the entrance include a Pacers Bikeshare station.

“The banner project for the One America lobby was for me a very inspiring project. It was exciting to create a visual narrative that was a celebration of patriotism,” Knabe said.

OneAmerica will continue the company’s longstanding tradition of displaying a smaller U.S. flag in the first-floor lobby from Flag Day through Independence Day, as well as flying the flag on top of the OneAmerica Tower.

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                                                                                 About OneAmerica^®

OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., has companies that can trace their solid foundations back more than 135 years in the financial services marketplace.

The OneAmerica companies offer a variety of products and services to serve the financial needs of their policyholders and customers. These products include retirement plan products and trust and record-keeping services; individual life insurance, annuities, asset based long-term care solutions and employee benefit plan products.

The products of the OneAmerica companies are distributed through a nationwide network of employees, agents, brokers and other distribution sources that are committed to increasing value to policyholders by helping them prepare to meet their financial goals. To learn more about our products, services and the companies of OneAmerica, visit www.OneAmerica.com/companies, the OneAmerica Newsroom or follow @OneAmerica on Twitter.