Mystery solved: Everett police identify man who dropped off Ground Zero flag

Earlier this month, Everett Police determined a flag dropped off at the fire station in 2014 was the same flag that was raised above the site of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York. But who dropped it off?

Police would only identify the man as “Brian.” But now, they know who he really is.

Archive: Everett PD unsure who dropped off flag

Brian Browne, of Everett, saw the national attention the long-lost flag was receiving and reached out to investigators to tell his story about the flag’s journey.

Browne, a self-described flag collector, said he received the flag from a friend at a Veterans Day gathering in 2006. He said he believed the friend got the flag from the wife of a former New York City employee.

“Brian was able to sensibly and chronologically retrace the steps of the route that the flag had traveled from New York City to Everett,” Detective Mike Atwood said in a news release from the City of Everett. “He was also able to corroborate details about the flag and about his initial visit to the fire station.”

Browne kept the flag until November 2014 when he watched “Lost History” on the History Channel. He and his wife decided they needed to turn it over to authorities after noticing similarities between his flag and the one they saw on TV.

“I had that sickening feeling inside that this flag must be the one,” said Browne in a statement provided to detectives.

Browne says he’s glad the flag has been returned to New York City where it belongs.

“My motivation was to return what I thought was lost property, and now to come forward with the actual events for the historical record,” Browne said in his statement. “My only wish is that it never leaves its beautiful custom case. It has too much sentimental value, and in my opinion is a very sacred piece to be shared and shown at the museum, never to leave hallowed ground.”

Everett Police have concluded their investigation.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest