NEW YORK, New York (AP) -- An American flag that was lifted above the wreckage of the World Trade Center and then flew aboard military ships deployed in the war against terror was hoisted above City Hall Monday morning.

The American flag, that was raised by firefighters at the World Trade Center attacks site and by U.S. sailors in waters near Afghanistan, is raised above New York City Hall Monday, April 1, 2002, as Mayor Bloomberg, right of trumpet, and other officials look on. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)

The flag, which three firefighters raised above the burning rubble on Sept. 11, was sent to the USS Theodore Roosevelt in October as it sailed toward Afghanistan. It has since flown on six other ships involved in U.S. military missions.

The flag returned to New York last week after a ceremony aboard the Roosevelt as it ended its six-month mission and returned to Norfolk, Va.

At Monday's City Hall ceremony, the flag was raised by a member of the police honor guard as bagpipers played ``America the Beautiful.'' Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined firefighters, police and military officials standing at attention.

The three firefighters who raised the flag on Sept. 11 _ an image captured in a newspaper photograph seen around the world _ also attended.

``The flag has special meaning,'' Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said before the ceremony. ``It seemed to represent an indomitable spirit, a coming back from those attacks.''

The flag will fly over City Hall for one week, and then will likely circulate among city police stations and firehouses in a case specially crafted by the Navy, said Michael Handy, director of the mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs.