I was 13 in 1976 for America’s bi-centennial celebration. I recall that in that year, thanks to a classmate whose family owned Annin Flag, America’s oldest flag makers, we were given a tour of the factory. At that time, they were preparing a massive 100’ flag to be flown from the George Washington Bridge in New York City. That was an incredibly impressive time and event, indelibly imprinted in my memory. 

Now, 50 years later and on the doorstep of America250, I am tremendously honored to be associated with Zeus Flagpoles, a ‘hand-crafted in America’ brand featuring the finest fiberglass flagpoles in the US, since 1964.  

With roots in ancient Greece (Greek and Roman history and philosophy was the driving intellectual force among our country’s founders), democratic government was formed through trial and tribulation and independence from England and “despotic” rule was declared in 1776. Those daring new Americans risked their lives to forge a new way of life, and in fact had no idea at the time whether it would take hold and survive or be lost to the annals of history. That declarative document gave birth to a nation, and now, nearly 250 years later, we enjoy the fruits of those who fought for our independence, but also those who fought and died in the intervening years to keep the dream of our founders alive and moving forward, with so many changes and struggles along the way. 

Our tagline, “Respect Your Flag” is in honor not only of our American flag, but of all the “flags” that are part of the story of our longest running democracy in, and model to, the world. That we are, next year, going to celebrate our 250th birthday as a country is a testament to all the individuals that have kept their ideals alive through honor and strength of will.  

Happy Birthday, America. We’ll do our part to fly our flag high!