By Nissa LaPoint, METRO NORTH NEWSPAPERS
Cathy Brand can be found in her backyard among a sea of red, white and blue on the Fourth of July.
Every year she throws a neighborhood July Fourth party at her house near 74th Avenue and Bradburn Boulevard.
Brand has planned the annual bash for 25 years and stocks up with decorations and party favors adorned with flag designs. She was surprised to find all the items she needed this year just one block from her home at the Custom Flag Company in Westminster.
“They had everything I needed,” Brand said. She bought “I heart America” pins, flags, backpacks, Slinkies and many more items decorated with the American flag.
She wanted plenty of decorations this year because the Fourth of July is also her wedding anniversary.
Ask Brand and any of the employees at the company and they’ll say that the American flag represents freedom, pride and respect, and that everyone should be proud to be an American.
But such feelings come natural to the employees at the flag company that sells American and custom made flags year around.
Whenever employee Fred Mahe sees a flag in a parade or other event he said, “You have a quiver that goes down your back.”
The small shop has done business in Westminster for 11 years, five of which have been out of its current location at 73rd Avenue and Bradburn Boulevard.
Not until this summer has some local residents known that the shop was there, said Kim Griebling, president of the company. New flags and signs proudly state the businesses’ presence to those who pass by.
Griebling and her father have kept the business going by serving not only walk-in customers like Brand but also commercial businesses and individual custom made orders.
New housing developers throughout the metro area order large poles and flags, including local city buildings and fire departments, such as Westminster and Arvada.
Nylon or fabric flags are available to customers with a variety of steel poles or freestanding holders.
All orders come with a once-a-month cleaning and maintenance, Griebling said.
A few times a week, Griebling said the family of an American soldier will request a burial flag. The company is well versed in proper burial flag folding and customs.
July Fourth is the shop’s busiest time of the year for walk-in customers, and the company is celebrating with numerous flag discounts.
Overall, the company sells more than 1,000 flags a year.
However, with each flag comes a responsibility, Griebling said.
The American flag should be proudly flown but also respected, she said.
“(It shows) an allegiance to the U.S.A.,” Grieblign said.
BREAKOUT BOX:
Caring for the American flag
* Never let it touch the ground, be marked or carried flat or horizontally.
* The flag should always be in a place of prominence over other flags.
* It should be raised when it is unfurled and lowered slowly.
* It should be replaced if it is tattered or worn from weather.
* A worn flag is properly disposed by being burned at an authorized business.
* Federal authorities could charge a person up to one year in prison or $1,000 for publicly burning or desecrating the flag.
* All persons should place their hand at their left shoulder over their heart when the flag is passing in a parade, during a ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag, when the National Anthem is played and during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Distributed by Colorado Capitol Reporters
