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2004 | FlagandBanner.com Press Center

 

 2004 Arkansas Business of the Year Awards

Arkansas Business presents finalists for its 2004 Arkansas Business of the Year Awards, which honors businesses, nonprofits and executives in Arkansas.

Arkansas Flag and Banner, a manufacturer of custom banners and flags in Little Rock, Arkansas has been named as a finalist for the 2004 Arkansas Business of the Year Award presented by Arkansas Business Magazine.

Since 1988, Arkansas Business has honored the state's top executives, small businesses and nonprofits with the annual Arkansas Business of the Year Awards. Readers make nominations and an independent panel of judges selects the winners.

Arkansas Flag and Banner

City: Little Rock
Category: Category I (1-25 Employees)
Year: 2004

Since 1975, Kerry McCoy has grown Arkansas Flag and Banner at near-bankrupting speed.

Her last two business expansions — $200,000 to buy and renovate the red-brick, historic building at 800 W. Ninth St. in 1992 and $500,000 for equipment and technology up-grades in 2000 — almost put her out of business. Almost. Instead, McCoy, the company’s sole owner, and 21 employees managed to increase sales by 20 percent every year.

“I’d like to grow 20 percent every quarter,” McCoy said, typical of her need to go full speed.

It’s that frantic pace that has allowed her to keep up with a business that’s seen quite a bit of change in the 30 years since McCoy first started selling flags door-to-door by day while waiting tables at night.

“In the ’80s it went to telemarketing because gas was so high,” McCoy said. “In the ’90s it went to catalog sales, and in 1995 I heard about the Internet and bought Flagandbanner.com.”

Every decade or so there seems to be a national event that gives business a boost. In the 1970s it was the nation’s bicentennial. In the ’80s, President Reagan and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” inspired newfound patriotism. The 1990s brought the Persian Gulf War.

Most recently the country went flag crazy after the September 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Arkansas Flag and Banner was shipping an average of 30 packages of flags a day before September 11; immediately afterward, that went to more than 100 packages a day.

Surging demand, however, has also brought surging competition.

“The U.S. flag is becoming a commodity product,” McCoy said. “You can go to Wal-Mart and get a U.S. flag.”

About 80 percent of the company’s business comes from repeat customers. McCoy takes pride in having not only flags, poles, banners and bunting but all the unheralded equipment that goes with it.

“If anybody comes to me that has a product that’s good and reliable, I’ll sell it,” McCoy said.

Posted February 22, 2004

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Book Signing in Historical Downtown Little Rock

 

Little Rock's history comes alive in Berna Love's new release. Local author Berna J. Love documents the vivid history of downtown in END OF THE LINE: A History of Little Rock's West Ninth Street. From an emancipation shantytown and lynching through the heyday of "little Harlem" and the death knell of Urban Renewal, The Line was the civic, social and commercial center of a world held back by the fears, laws and ignorance of segregation.

Walk down The Line, and be enthralled by the sights, sounds and smells of the thriving African-American society not defined just by street names and numbers. The Line: a survivor of wars, the Klan, Jim Crow, the Depression and the Great Migration but demolished in the name of progress.

Less than a handful of buildings stand as a testament to this span of time and the significant contribution of these people integral to the history of Little Rock, Arkansas.

One of the remaining buildings, the Taborian Hall was built in 1917 on 800 West Ninth Street and refurbished in 1991 by local business owner Kerry McCoy.

The Taborian Hall is now home of Arkansas FlagandBanner.com, a full-service custom flag and banner manufacturer as well as a specialty gift store offering unique and hard-to-find patriotic items to a worldwide audience, via the Internet.

Love will be at Arkansas FlagandBanner.com to sign books and visit with history buffs on Friday, April 9, 2004 from 3 to 6 pm. Refreshments will be served and in-house specials will be offered to commemorate the occasion. 

Posted on April 9, 2004.

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Olympic Games Return to Athens Celebrated with Largest Photo Exhibition

What do you get when you combine 16,828 photos of Greek people?

Answer: the title of the largest photo exhibition ever created (courtesy of Guiness Book of World Records) and a big Mediterranean smile.

To help celebrate the return of the Olympic Games to Athens this year, Kodak compiled more than 16,000 submitted photos to create a photo montage of a Greek child smiling.

The final image covers more than 5300 sq ft and was produced by Greek printer Polichromo SA using a NUR Fresco 3200 on mesh substrate.

The image was installed on a building in Syntagma Square in Athens. Greece's Olympic Smile 

The 2004 Summer Olympic Games (Modern Greek: Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί ΑγÏŽνες 2004, Therinoí Olympiakoí Agó̱nes 2004[3]), officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad and commonly known as Athens 2004, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed,[1] some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team officials from 201 countries.[1] There were 301 medal events in 28 different sports.[1] Athens 2004 marked the first time since the 1996 Summer Olympics that all countries with a National Olympic Committee were in attendance. 2004 marked the return of the games to the city where they began. - Wikipedia

Posted April 26, 2004. 

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Flag Repair ... Veteran Steals Unfit Flag

I looked up and saw the condition of that flag and said, "'Oh my God, I can't believe this flag is even being displayed like this,'" Cundieff said.

"The stripes were ripped all the way to the blue banner. It looked worse than flags that have flown over a battlefield. Those flags have a reason to be torn, but this flag was shredded almost beyond recognition."

Cundieff is a Vietnam era veteran who served in the army from 1971 to 1980. "I almost lost my life on the East/West German border one night trying to preserve freedom and all that the flag stands for," Cundieff said.

When Cundieff got home, he said he immediately called the Powell House. "I told the person on the phone that I felt the way they were displaying the flag totally dishonored all that the flag represents," Cundieff said.

"I told them many men and women had died for that flag and that it shouldn't be displayed all tattered and torn. I told them that if it was still flying like that by sunset, I would take it down myself. That's when they hung up on me."

As Cundieff conveyed his message, he admits that he was passionate over the phone.

"I was hurt and I wanted it taken down," Cundieff said.

It was later learned that the Powell House personal service assistant who took the call didn't understand exactly what Cundieff was requesting and therefore didn't report the call until the following day.

"At 8:30 that night (Sunday) it was still flying, so I went and took it," Cundieff said. "I brought it home and folded it the best I could."

The next morning when Doreen Mandel, associate administrator of Powell House, got to work, she was surprised to see the flag was missing. "I said, ‘Oh my gosh, who would do that?' That's when I learned about the phone call the day before...." Read more at Payson Roundup

Flags that are torn, tattered and faded should always be replaced with a new flag as soon as possible. 

Part of our “service after the sale” at Flagandbanner.com is FREE flag retirement services.

If our flag repair services are not an option for your flag, and you wish to have it properly retired and disposed of by United States Flag Code, send it to us by mail or bring it by our showroom in person.
 
Flag and Banner
800 West Ninth Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
 
When you send your flag to us be sure your return address is clearly on the packaging so we can mail your $5 discount coupon to use on the purchase of your new flag.
 
Reasons to retire your flag with FlagandBanner.com:
  • Flag retirement is FREE
  • You will receive a $5 discount on your new US flag when you send us your old one

Posted on May 9, 2004

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Guidelines for Flag Display During Wartime

It is always permissible and desirable to fly the American flag but displaying it every day is particularly appropriate to show support for our troops when the nation is at war. While it is considered inappropriate to fly the American flag in inclement weather, it is permissible to fly the flag at night if there is enough lighting in the area so that the flag can be plainly seen.

There is no special "war time" protocol for displaying the American flag during periods of military conflict, although there are situations that arise that generate questions. The flag should normally be at full staff. It should be half-staffed for a designated half-staff holiday*, or by proclamation of the President.

The Governor of a State, territory or possession of the United States also may proclaim that the national flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a present or former official of that State, territory or possession as a mark of respect to their memory.

When a US flag cannot be lowered because it is mounted either on an indoor flag set or on a small pole made for porch or window display, tying a black bow above a full- staffed flag properly indicates mourning. Use of a yellow ribbon has been an unofficial American tradition for over 100 years.

Displaying a yellow ribbon indicates thoughts and prayers for the safe return of American forces on duty away from home. No official guidelines for its display exist but yellow ribbons are often tied to trees and light poles or displayed in miniature on the left lapel of jackets or other clothing with a lapel pin. When displayed with an American flag the preferred position of the yellow ribbon is tied in a bow above a full-staffed flag. Note that displaying a black or yellow ribbon above the American flag is not considered a breech of Flag Etiquette because the ribbon does not represent another country or organization.

*Designated half-staff holidays are Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), Korean War Veterans Day (July 27th), Patriot Day (Sept.11) and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Dec. 7th). Other Flag Holidays. United States Flag Code

Posted on May 19, 2004

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Former POW Receives Special US Flag

A World War II veteran in Oklahoma received a special gift from his grandson, all the way from Afghanistan.

George Walden is a former POW and now his grandson is serving in the war on terrorism. So after a flag that flew over the US headquarters in Afghanistan was retired, the grandson packed it up with a plaque and sent it to his grandfather and his ex-American Prisoner of War Association in Tulsa.

Walden's grandson is a paratrooper with Task Force 33. George Walden said, "It flew over one of the capitols over there and he got it and the general signed it and everything."

FlagAndBanner.com sells a wide variety of flag cases.

Posted June 5, 2004

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Flag etiquette upon the death of a president

According to the Arkansas governor's office, the US Flag is flown at half staff for 30 days after the death of a president. Since no flag is to be flown higher than the US flag, the declaration in is effect for 30 days for the state flag as well. Banner flags (those not mounted on a pole or staff) should be left as is.On June 5, 2004, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, died after having suffered from Alzheimer's disease for nearly a decade.President George W. Bush was in Paris when Reagan died and acknowledged the death in a press conference.

This is a sad hour in the life of America. A great American life has come to an end. I have just spoken to Nancy Reagan. On behalf of our whole nation, Laura and I offered her and the Reagan family our prayers and our condolences. Ronald Reagan won America's respect with his greatness, and won its love with his goodness. He had the confidence that comes with conviction, the strength that comes with character, the grace that comes with humility, and the humor that comes with wisdom. He leaves behind a nation he restored and a world he helped save. During the years of President Reagan, America laid to rest an era of division and self-doubt. And because of his leadership, the world laid to rest an era of fear and tyranny. Now, in laying our leader to rest, we say thank you. He always told us that for America, the best was yet to come. We comfort ourselves in the knowledge that this is true for him, too. His work is done, and now a shining city awaits him. May God bless Ronald Reagan.
— President George W. Bush, June 5, 2004 - Wikipedia
 
Aboard USS Ronald Reagan, June 7, 2004: Sailors wrote personal messages in a book, which is going to be presented by USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)'s Commanding Officer, Capt. James A. Symonds to Nancy Reagan during President Ronald Reagan's interment ceremony.

Posted June 7, 2004

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First American flag in Presidential Portrait

Simmie Knox, a 69-year-old Alabama-born artist, made history yesterday, when he became the first black artist to not only paint an official presidential portrait, but have it hung in the White House.

It will also be the first presidential portrait in the White House collection to include the American flag.

A graduate of Tyler School of Art at Temple University (BFA, Magna Cum Laude, MFA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Simmie Knox as an artist has specialized in oil portraiture since 1981. Prior to that, he taught at various colleges, universities, and public schools in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

During the 1970's, Simmie exhibited as an abstract artist and worked for the Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C.

In 1971, he participated in the Thirty-Second Biennial of Contemporary American Painting at The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. with his abstract art.He turned to portraiture after years of painting a wide variety of paintings because he found that there is nothing more challenging and interesting to paint than the human face.

He states "I think that a good portrait is the most difficult thing for an artist to bring off successfully. Not only must you get an accurate likeness, but you must also create a good painting. Somehow you must convey a subject's character, spirit, and personality; portraitand everything must communicate the dynamism of the subject."

Simmie has been commissioned by private individuals, organizations, and institutions and has painted portraits of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, a U.S. cabinet member, U.S. congressmen and state senators, a mayor of New York City, respected civic leaders, sports figures, entertainment celebrities, educators, judges, religious leaders, military officers, businessmen, and private individuals.

All portraits are done with oil paint on oil-primed linen. You can see the portraits at his official website SimmieKnox.com

Posted June 14, 2004

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Flag Day TV Appearance


In a pre-Flag Day public service promotion, Kerry McCoy, owner of Arkansas' FlagandBanner.com made an appearance on KATV Channel 7's Good Morning Arkansas television show. 

Kerry and Good Morning Arkansas' host Jason Harper discuss the proper way to display the flag for special demonstrations or daily exposure and other flag etiquette.

Kerry also had an opportunity to show off the variety of red, white, and blue products offered by FlagandBanner.com.

FlagandBanner.com not only sells flags and banners but also patriotic clothes, decor, party supplies and even car magnets, FlagandBanner.com has something for everyone to show their patriotism and pride in America. We like to say that FlagandBanner.com is "More than just a flag store!"

Posted June 14, 2004

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Weatherman Mike Francis gets to work at FlagandBanner.com

In a patriotic-themed program for his "Working for a Living" segment just before Independence Day, Mike Francis, weekend weatherman for KARK Channel 4, came to the offices of FlagandBanner.com to try his hand at the flag business.

Mike introduced the business and the owner Kerry McCoy, and his duties for the morning to viewers while standing in front of the 9' Lady Liberty statue in the building's foyer.

Unpaid and untrained, Mike did a surprisingly good job at sewing a torn flag, working the grommet machine (and mocking it's noise... btttt-BAP!), folding a flag, tying the presentation cord to an indoor flag pole and making an ink swipe on the screen printing table. 

Mike's final duty of the morning was to place an American Flag on the fire for an official Flag Retirement Ceremony conducted by the Boy Scouts Troop #6 and Troop #262. Keeping watch over the ceremony - and Mike - was the Little Rock Fire Department.

We appreciate all who participated in the day's events and would like to thank Mike Francis for his interest in our endeavors here at Arkansas' FlagandBanner.com.

Great job, Mike, but don't quit your day job... you are a much better weatherman!

Posted June 30, 2004

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9/11 Victim Memorial

June 24, 2004

Dear Flag of Honor/Flag of Heroes Supporter,

We hope this update finds you and yours well. Our efforts to remember those who perished on September 11th continue.We are thrilled to finally be able to launch our effort to present the family of each victim with a framed artist canvas of the Flag of Honor.

Working with a Connecticut studio we have begun to produce the Flag of Honor artist canvases. There will be 2 editions, the Family edition which will be personally remarked for each family and the Public Edition which will be numbered and signed and be available to the public.

The Public Edition will be limited to 2250 framed canvases and sell for $500 plus shipping with 100% of the proceeds going to help fund the Family Edition. These are truly an outstanding piece of art. 

Last year in Gresham Oregon, Kelly Broomall erected a field containing over 3000 Flag of Honor and Flag of Heroes to represent each of the people who died on 9/11. Kelly, who works for Boeing, spent countless hours soliciting sponsors, getting the support of the town of Gresham, arranging an entire program including military salutes, setting up The Field and selling the displayed flags to raise money for local charities. It was a huge success.

Over 100,000 people visited The Field and over $50,000 was raised for local charities."It was a most moving experience walking through the flags and having them brush across your face in the breeze. It really gave a sense of what America lost that day."This year Kelly and we have teamed up with Healing Fields of Sandy, Utah to bring these fields across the country. Currently over 25 fields will be erected across America.

Each is intended to honor America, its soldiers and those who died on 9/11. We welcome you to visit our website to view the photos and video. Our goal is to have a Healing Field in every state on the 5th anniversary. If you have an interest in holding a Healing Field in your community please contact us or Lori at Healingfield.org.

We are also proud to have begun to work with several scout organizations to distribute the Flag of Honor and Flag of Heroes. The scouts are using the effort both as a community service project and as a fundraiser for their area scouting organization. They have begun their efforts by focusing on Town buildings such as town halls, firehouses, police stations and libraries and also attend community events such as parades and holiday celebrations.

If your organization is interested in helping us to distribute the Flags by using the Flag of Honor or Flag of Heroes as part of its fundraising efforts we would be happy to talk with you.We have gotten some great photos from Iraq and Afghanistan of our soldiers with the Flag of Honor and Flag of Heroes. As you may know, our soldiers are not permitted to openly display the American Flag because we are not conquerors but liberators. However, the Flag of Honor and Flag of Heroes are acceptable.

Thus they have been displayed with great pride by our soldiers throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. We all pray for their quick and safe return to their families. May God Bless them.Lastly, but most importantly, we would like to ask from you that you please forward this up-date newsletter to as many people as you can. If each of us sends it to just a few people, it will make a tremendous difference in our effort to continue our remembrance project throughout the country and the world.
In the meantime we wish you good health and much happiness.


Thank you again for your continuing support.--
The Flag of Honor/Flag of Heroes Project Team
John Michelotti
Laurent Martinez
Oliver Nicolle

Posted on July 7, 2004

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U.S. Flag to Be Flown at Half Staff for Patriot Day

September 11th has been designated as Patriot Day by United States Public Law #107-89, which amended Title 36 of the United States Code effective December 18, 2001.

The law states that on Patriot Day to fly the flag at half-staff in honor of the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks.

State and local governments and the people of the United States have been called upon to observe Patriot Day with appropriate programs and activities. Further, the law requests that individuals observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims.

For a flag in a bracket mounted on a house or other building, it is not possible to "half-staff" the flag. Therefore, a tradition of using black ribbons as a sign of mourning can be used. Two black ribbons of suitable length (perhaps, the width and length of one stripe) should be attached at the top of the pole. For a flag hung vertically, a ribbon should be affixed at each end of the "top" heading of the flag.

These ribbons should never be attached to the face of the flag itself. One theory on the origin of "half-staff" is that it comes from the military custom of lowering the flag to show, at the time of death, submission to the will of God.

Current custom indicates that the flag is "in mourning" when it is at half-staff. It is interesting to note that other countries observe the same tradition at a time of national mourning.

When a flag is flown at half-staff, it should first be raised to the top of the pole and then lowered to half-staff. It is important to note that when the United States flag is flown at "half-staff", no other flag can be flown at "full-staff".

It is disrespectful to fly any flag higher than the U.S. Flag.On a solemn occasion such as Patriot Day, proper respect should be shown to those who lost their lives as well as the surviving families by flying the U.S. Flag with dignity and respect.

The U.S. Flag Code states that the flag should not be flown when it is no longer a fitting emblem for display. When the flag is faded, frayed or ripped, it is not considered to be a dignified symbol of the United States; it is disrespectful to fly the U.S. Flag in such a condition. Citizens should either remove "unserviceable" flags from display or proudly fly a bright, fresh flag during such solemn observances.

Posted on September 1, 2004

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Old Glory Flies for Us All

The American Flag does not belong to any one political party, nor does it represent any one political view.

The American flag belongs to all the people of the United States. Nothing told us this more than the way we came together as a people after the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Never had we seen more homes, more cars, more companies waving Old Glory than in the autumn of 2001.The flag was no longer an icon of our grandfather's era but became once again an emotional symbol galvanizing ordinary citizens of all generations, creeds, and ethnic origins to stand united as Americans.

In reality, our Flag has always been there for all of us. What the flag truly represents is not war, not the government, not an attitude, or a policy or a political stance.

Our Star Spangled Banner represents the rights and freedoms we all cherish as American citizens; the right to an education, the freedom to worship as we choose, the right to wave the flag in support of or in opposition of the right to speak out in protest, the freedom to assemble, the right to petition and be heard, the freedom to publish, and the right to vote for change.

We should all remember that having the freedom to dissent is the very reason we should love our country even more and not turn against her. Standing united as a country does not mean we all agree. Patriotism is defined differently depending on your point of view. One of the basic principles represented by this fluttering symbol is that Our nation is indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Remember, no matter what your point of view, Old Glory flies for us all.

Don't take your freedom for granted. Fly Your Flag Today and Every Day!

Posted on September 11, 2004

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Remembering 9/11

More than 70,000 fans cheered for the firefighters before observing a 10-second moment of silence to remember those who died Sept. 11, 2001 -- when four planes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

Chris Buckman, a member of the Iowa City fire department's honor guard, yells out the steps Saturday as he carries an American flag that flew over ground zero during a ceremony remembering the 2001 terrorist attacks before Iowa's game against Iowa State. Press-Citizen / Jason A. Cook

The flag remained on the field for the National Anthem.

"It was very moving and very appropriate," John Hoak, of Dayton, Ohio, said. "It brought tears to my eyes.

Posted on: September 14, 2004

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Tribute Demonstration

img_Oct_24_2004_00_00

World War II veteran Turk Aroun, 78, of Los Angeles walks among the more than 1,100 flag draped coffins representing American service men and women killed to date in the invasion and occupation of Iraq (news - web sites) as part of a tribute demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, October 23, 2004. The tribute, hosted by the Iraq War Memorial Coalition and 1,000 Coffins.org, also included a reading of the soldiers' names, followed by the playing of Taps.

REUTERS

Posted on: October 24, 2004

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Rudolph holiday postmark pays tribute to U.S. flag

 

img_Nov_26_2004_21_33

RUDOLPH, Ohio - The self-proclaimed "Reindeer Station" at the Rudolph post office will begin stamping mail with its holiday postmark Wednesday.

This year's postmark features Rudolph bearing a U.S. flag.

Toledo, OH

Posted on: November 26, 2004

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Pictures of the year 2004

img_Dec_11_2004_29_13PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2004 - U.S. Postal Service Team rider Lance Armstrong of the United States, the first six-time winner of the Tour de France cycling classic, waves as he cycles past a U.S. flag during the rider's parade on the Champs-Elysees after the 20th and final stage of the Tour in Paris, July 25, 2004. Armstrong won the 3,500 km Tour de France for a record-breaking sixth time. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandin

Reuters

Posted on: December 11, 2004

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