For people that know me, its pretty evident that I Love Our American Flag and what it Stands for. So the idea came to me that it would be very fitting for John and I to take on this Amazing Flight as many American Made, American Flags that we could fit into the airplane after all of our other necessities was packed in ! SO……. I am very Honored and Proud to say that we will be taking 30 3’x5′ American Flags that was manufactured here in the US (one of their two plants is in our Home State of Virginia in South Boston) by America’s Oldest and Largest Flag Company ….. Annin Flagmakers ! They have been making Flags since 1847 and have had their Flags used on many major Historical Events. Listed here are some of the Events that the Annin American Flag has been used…….
- The Great Exhibition of 1851
It was a great day for the all-American Annin Flagmakers when the New York City based flag company was contracted to supply the flags for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations” in London, England. This event held in 1851 is considered by historians to be the first World’s Fair. - Civil War
Annin Flagmakers had the honor of supplying all of the US flags for the Union troops during the American Civil War. From 1861 to 1865, Annin Flagmakers sold 1.5 million flags and emblems. It was during this period of history that private citizens began flying US flags on their homes and businesses as a sign of patriotism. - Abraham Lincoln
Annin Flagmakers supplied the flag for the inauguration of President Lincoln. Sadly, Annin also furnished the flag that draped his casket as it was taken by train from Washington, D.C. to Illinois for burial after his tragic assassination in 1865. - Yankee Stadium
Annin Flagmakers made all of the flags and decorations for the opening of Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923. - Exploration
Exploration and involvement in world affairs consumed America during the 20th century, and Annin was there. The company’s flags were carried by Commander Robert E. Peary’s expedition to the North Pole in 1909, Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s expedition to the South Pole in 1930 and the National Geographic expedition to Mount Everest in 1963. - World War II
Annin’s most famous wartime contribution was the flag planted atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima in 1945. American Marines planted a US flag on the fifth day of the thirty –five day battle to boost the morale of the troops. - United Nations
Annin Flagmakers became and remains the principal flag supplier to the United Nations when the organization was founded in 1945 with 50 members. While the official flags of the individual countries vary in proportion, all the flags on display at the UN Headquarters worldwide are manufactured to a 1 to 1.5 proportion to achieve a uniform appearance. - Apollo 11 Mission to the Moon
The US flag that Annin Flagmakers supplied to NASA for the Apollo 11 moon landing was specially made with a sleeve across the top length. This was done so a pole could be inserted to hold it out straight since it would normally hang limp in the moon’s windless atmosphere. When astronaut Buzz Aldrin assembled the flagpole, the horizontal part of the pole jammed and the pole did not fully extend. This is why the flag appears to be “waving in a breeze” in the NASA photographs thus giving credence to the false rumor that the entire mission was a hoax. - And Now in 2015 the Annin Flag will Fly with us on this Epic Mission of Captain John Billings ……. (A Decorated WWII B24 Bomber Pilot)…… Around Our Great County that he helped to keep Free with his Heroic Service during WWII !
- Check out the Annin Flag Company at www.annin.com