Avenue of Flags

Avenue of Flags is a park in the city of Hermitage in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States, erected during the Iran hostage crisis of 1979–1981 to honor the American diplomats held hostage in Tehran, Iran.

[1] The memorial began as a single American flag, surrounded by flags representing each of the 50 states, and was created by Tom Flynn, the owner of the adjacent Hillcrest Memorial Park cemetery.

[2] On February 11, 1980, the 100th day of captivity, Flynn decided to erect 100 flags and raise one flag every day afterward until the hostages were freed.

The American hostages were held in Iran from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981.

There is also an eternal flame which burns in front of the monument dedicated to the eight American servicemen who died in the failed hostage rescue attempt on April 25, 1980.