Flag odyssey dawns at Diamond Head

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Early tomorrow, Al Liebman of Palm Springs, Calif., will set off along the Diamond Head trail, the first steps in a thousand-mile trek.

His goal: To collect 50 flags, one from each state, a symbol that terrorism can't tear this country apart.

"After Sept. 11, I wondered, what can I do?" Liebman said. "Every day, I saw more devastation. I saw the economy falling apart, a domino effect with the airline industry. Then I thought, 'What if I could bring the nation together somehow?"

Hawai'i is the first state in his eastbound itinerary, and in each state, the real-estate agent and hiking enthusiast plans a 20-mile trek through the state capital city. The hike will end at the state capitol building where he will receive a state flag from that state's chief executive.

Liebman is to receive the Hawai'i banner from Gov. Ben Cayetano at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

When he gets home, Liebman plans to rent an RV in which to continue his cross-country travels. On the one-year anniversary of the World Trade Center's destruction by suicide bombers, Liebman hopes to have all 50 flags with him at Ground Zero, where he will auction them off in a single lot, the proceeds to benefit the families of the victims.

Many of the details are still being hammered out, but Liebman feels his mission is clear: Start healing the wounds.