LEWISTON — A week after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York City, retired Lewiston firefighter Buzzy Metayer wanted to help.

With so much security, it was impossible to make any arrangements, but he bought a bunch of work gloves and personally delivered them. He and his girlfriend stayed in a campground and became part of the pulsing mass of people who descended on the city to show their support and spirit.

The heroism and patriotism was “palpable,” the fit 80-year-old said last week, a day before climbing his last tree to fly a flag 70 feet in the air next to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge in Lewiston.

Returning from New York in 2001, there were fewer flags and visible signs of patriotism the closer he got to his home in Lewiston, he said. He wanted to do something, but it was too late in the year.

After planning all winter, the weather finally presented an opportunity. He nervously chose a tree fairly deep in the woods where he would not be discovered but the flag would be seen by motorists crossing the bridge. It was state-owned land and he wondered what the reaction would be.

“Better to ask forgiveness than permission,” Metayer said.

The state never asked questions. He grew bolder after hearing the feedback from those who knew he was hoisting the flag. It became a topic of discussion throughout town, especially when more flags began popping up. At one time, there were five.

Most were American flags, but he did fly the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine flags for short periods in honor of family members who served in those branches.

It bothered him that during the winter, especially the harsh ones, some of the flags would become torn and tattered.

“I just couldn’t get to them; I just had to take it,” the Army veteran said. “I got to them as soon as I could.”

A few flags were donated, but he paid for most.

“I have this uncle, he still would give me money for my birthday. I would take that and turn it into flags,” Metayer said.

He was fulfilling a promise he made to a reporter who was investigating the flag phenomenon in 2002 and promised not to reveal who was behind the bridge flags until he put up his last one.

On Friday morning, Sept. 2, with a handful of friends, family and colleagues gathered around, Metayer climbed for the last time, lowered Old Glory and hoisted a firefighter flag signed by as many current and former firefighters as he could reach.

After sitting in the tree for 64 minutes, the number on his badge, he lowered the signed flag, tucked it in his shirt and replaced it with another firefighter flag before lowering himself down the 70-foot pine.

“I don’t know who, if anybody will ever get up to replace it,” Metayer said. “I figure there will be less complaining about that one when it falls apart.”

Metayer is packing his camper, the one with the flag painted on it that has been a fixture in Lewiston-Auburn for years, and heading south at the end of the month.

“My hands and bones can’t take the cold. I am heading to Florida,” he said.

The plan is to stay at campgrounds while he checks out places. “When I find something I like, I’ll call a real estate agent,” he said.

One thing is sure, an American flag will be proudly displayed wherever he goes.