Let “Old Glory” Fly {+ giveaway}
Growing up, my family didn’t really have any military affiliation, but I always knew about American pride, and it was because of the flag. My mom often let “Old Glory” fly; she’d get the flag out from the top cabinet in the laundry room, unfold it, put it on a poll, and let it unfurl in the breeze. She’d put it out on certain days (Fourth of July, Flag Day, Memorial Day, etc.), and I always looked forward to seeing wave through the breeze.
In fact, on the days she’d fly the flag, I remember riding in her car as we’d drive to wherever we were going, and I’d count other American flags hanging up in our neighborhood; it felt like we were in an elite club or something. Well, now that I’m all grown up and have my own home, I’m finally joining the club.
“Buy a flag” has been on my to-do list for years, and it’s just been sitting there, taunting me since we moved back to America. So when Mike Cronin, founder and CEO of Gettysburg Flag Works, emailed me to see if I’d be interested in receiving one of his American flags as a gift, I couldn’t reply back fast enough.
First of all, I’m always ridiculously impressed when the head hauncho from a business reaches out to little ol’ bloggers like me. Second, he didn’t ask for anything in return, but instead, offered the flag just because. That personal touch means so much, and it tells me that he cares a lot about his business and products. With that said, even though he didn’t ask for a review, or anything like that, I was curious about flags and the business behind it; Mike was gracious enough to take some time away from his busy schedule to chat with me.
As a former Vietnam-era vet, Mike founded Gettysburg Flag Works more than 20 years ago out of love and a way to show support for America, the troops, and their families. “I was laid off from my engineering job and decided to do something different because engineering was on a downturn at that time,” Mike says. And since then, he’s never looked back.
It’s the freedom, flexibility, and success at taking risks that he likes the most. “Creating jobs has been most rewarding,” he mentions.
Today, Gettysburg Flag Works sell around 100,000 flags a year—in all shapes, sizes, and colors. “By far the American flag is the most popular flag. In second place are custom flags and banners for every type of organization, group, non-profit, bank, school, university, college, sports team, etc.,” says Mike.
Besides the fact that I now own a Gettysburg Flag, Mike says that other notable people and places also have a piece of his business flying. The U.S. Army and Navy, Bass Pro Shops, the NFL, Lebron James, Garth Brooks, all own at least one Gettysburg flag. Actually, Gettysburg Flag Works has even had its own 15 minutes of fame. Mike says that the “flag on the wall of Robert Redford’s CIA office in the movie Spy Games” is from Gettysburg Flag Works.
When it comes to flags, Mike says there’s one thing people may not know. “The Betsy Ross flag is often mistaken for the first flag.,” he says. “Historians have provided evidence that the first flags ordered by George Washington had the 14 stars in rows, not in a circle. Betsy Ross did apparently make some flags, but not the very first flags. That is the latest thinking.”
As for another thing you may not know, if you have an old, tattered flag, you can take it to your local VFW, American Legion, another veteran’s organization, or you can send it to Gettysburg Flag Works for proper disposal. You could also repurpose it with Stars for Troops.
So when should you fly your flag? Mike has the answer. “If you don’t fly Old Glory on Independence Day, you’ve missed the big one, even bigger than Flag Day.”
After I wrote this, I asked Mike if he’d mind sharing another flag with one of my readers, and he was totally on board. Enter using the Rafflecopter below, and one person will get to pick a flag from Gettysburg Flag Works (under $50; excludes custom flags).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I own a very special flag that my son in law gave to me that I fly on special days. I also have a smaller flag that I have out for "non special days".
Thanks for an opportunity to win this! I am needing to buy one also!
This is awesome! Our flag is still sitting in the closet waiting to have the pole/stand thingy installed on our porch. We are a little worried about the Wyoming wind blowing it away, too, and I'd love to actually have a pole in our yard as it would be sturdier than the porch. Love that they're giving away a flag, too!
I would love the American Flag! 😀 My email is perezashley60@hotmail.com.
Thanks for the opportunity to win one of these! I was just thinking the other day how badly I wished I had an American flag to fly.
Thank you! I want an America flag to fly so bad! Something smaller since we are in an "apartment" for now, but something!
So many choices! If my husband approved of flying my home state flag from our house, that would be my first choice. Second choice would be the French or the Norwegian flag. 🙂
I'd love a new American flag for our house! We fly it daily and it's getting a little weathered.
We fly an American flag outside almost everyday. It's probably time for a new one. Thanks for the opportunity. 🙂
We fly our flag daily, and are definitely in need of a new one. I began reading this post wondering if there was going to be information on what to do with the old ones… I'm going to send it to Gettysburg Flag Works for Stars for our Troops!
I think I would have to get a new American Flag. I noticed a few days ago that the winter was hard on ours, and it's that American pride that keeps mine flying year round. I'm about in tears reading about the Stars for Troops program – what an amazing organization!
I would get the indoor American flag! I live in an apartment so I can't fly anything outside. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would get a new indoor American flag since I live in an apartment and can't hang anything outside! Thanks for the giveaway!
I actually don't have a big flag to fly proudly in front of my house. I was planning on buying one very soon though. What a BEAUTIFUL flag he makes!!
I would get the nylon American Flag. It needs to be able to withstand this Arizona sun!
Now that we are looking at buying a house, I can't wait to have a flag pole out — not only for an American Flag, but also a Marine Corps flag!
I'd probably get any of the pole sleeve ones.
I want a good old American Flag!
I like the Gadsen Don't Tread on Me flag.
I'd go with a good ol' American Flag… or maybe a Chilean flag since I can't find mine and World Cup is coming up! haha