“You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high-flying flag,” wrote George M. Cohan, and Sonoma is preparing to do its part to celebrate that sentiment as the Fourth of July approaches.
With two flag stores in town, it’s not hard to find supplies. From flags to pins, decals or bunting, literally thousands of products are available between Embassy Flag and The Flag Emporium. Both businesses sell readymade and custom creations to clients locally and around the world.
It turns out that many people are not very familiar with flags, or how they’re made and how long they last.
“People don’t realize that flags don’t last forever,” said Chris Prete, owner of Embassy Flag. “A top-of-the-line, American-made flag will last about six to eight months, flown daily in the Carneros district.” Contemporary materials such as 200 denier (equivalent to the thread count in fabrics) nylon, have brighter colors and are lighter and move more in the breeze, and are the standard fabric used in all American-made flags. For instance, the flags flown by the City of Sonoma are all 200 denier nylon. For high-wind areas such as the Carneros, a woven polyester, which can look and feel more like cotton or even canvas, is recommended.
The earliest flags were made of silk or cotton, and had military or religious significance. The common man was not allowed to have or display flags. While only the wealthy could afford fine, hand-painted silk, ultimately that fabric did not last. Many silk flags deteriorated completely over time. The American and French revolutions established citizen participation in both the meaning and display of state and national flags, with flags no longer exclusive symbols of the ruling class.
Today, flags denote pride and identity, particularly in the military.
Anne Dutson, owner of The Flag Emporium, has seen an upsurge in requests for items for all services and POW/MIA and veterans flags.
“A special flag is the Veterans Remembered Flag,” said Dutson. “It was created to honor all past, present and future veterans – both military and civilian.”
The flag has been adopted in a joint resolution of the California State Senate and Assembly.
For Dutson, flags and history are her passion. “It’s where dreams have no boundaries,” she said. “We can make flags, banners or other custom pieces for weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations, as well as flags or banners for wineries, businesses, and even your boat!”
Historical flags are a particular specialty with Dutson who can tell you the material, the maker and the significance of almost any historical flag.
Embassy Flag also carries novelty items such as cocktail or beer flags, fish flags, and the ever-popular 19th Hole flag. But a large part of its business is with military, government and corporate clients.
“Many need foreign flags and friendship pins as a welcome for foreign dignitaries,” said Prete. “We do a lot of rentals for one-time occasions for cities and organizations. We did a rental of the largest flag we have, a 30-foot by 50-foot American flag, to the Marines. This flag is almost the size of a football field, 1,500 square feet. When they sent it back, they had folded it in a perfect triangle – the fold you would use for a ceremony. It was the most amazing thing we’d ever seen.”
Prete is willing to donate for free the use of this huge flag for a Fourth of July event. So far, he has no takers. (Returning it folded in a triangle is not required.)
Embassy Flag
1800.798.5431
www.embassyflag.com
Flag Emporium
1888.GET.FLAGS
www.flagemporium.com
According to military and government code books, in recognition of California’s entry into the Union on Sept. 9, 1850, the 31st star, was added on to the American flag on July 4, 1851.
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Today’s California State Flag has evolved from the historic Bear Flag (Todd Flag) which was first raised at the town of Sonoma on June 14, 1846, by Americans who proclaimed California independent of Mexico in what became known as the Bear Flag Revolt.
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United States Flag Code
Display on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in the open: from sunrise to sunset. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated.
