Jun
17
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) June 17, 2013
Civil War historians and general history lovers have been looking forward to the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the pivotal battles of the American Civil War. This historic battle took place on July 1-3 of 1863. The three day battle was a major turning point of the war because the North was able to turn away a Confederate advance on the 3rd day of battle. Unfortunately, it was also one of the costliest battles of the Civil War with about 51,000 casualties and around 7,500 dead.
FlagandBanner.com will mark the occasion with a special Historical Civil War flag kit that will be available for sale starting June 10th. The kit will include two tangle free flag poles, a 34 star Union flag (1861-1863) and the Confederate Battle Flag.
For those historians who know that West Virginia was admitted to the Union in June 1863 making it the 35th state, the star itself was not added to the Union flag until after the Battle of Gettysburg on July the 4th 1863.
The Civil War was the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. Some estimates say that more than 600,000 soldiers from both the North and South were killed and more than twice that were injured in the war.
“It could be said that the Civil War was a costly lesson. Does growth and change in our society have to be won or lost with weapons?” Kerry McCoy, president of FlagandBanner.com said. “With so much recorded history to learn from, it is good to remind ourselves of our past, so we don’t repeat ourselves in the future.”
Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address will also turn 150 this November. Many Americans remember the opening words of this address, “Four score and seven years ago” even if they are not history buffs. It is said that the address was given while Lincoln was suffering from a mild case of small pox. Despite his illness he was to give one of the most remembered and revered speeches in American history. One of the most poignant lines of his less than 10 sentence speech were the final words, “That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
FlagandBanner.com is based in Little Rock, Ark., and has been in business since 1975. They have been selling flags, flagpoles, banners, pennants and home and garden décor online nationally since 1995.
For more information about the more than 22,000 products Arkansas’s FlagandBanner.com offers, log on toFlagandBanner.com. Become a fan of FlagandBanner.com on Facebook, or call one of their experts at 1-800-445-0653.
Jun
14
Flag Day - Celebrating Old Glory Infographic
First of all, what is an infographic? The term stands for Information Graphic. You see them everywhere.
Definition of infographic
Syllabification: (in·fo·graph·ic)Pronunciation: /ˌinfōˈgrafik/
noun
a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data:a good infographic is worth a thousand words
Origin: 1960s (as adjective): blend of INFORMATION and GRAPHIC
Often seen in text books, magazines and newspapers, infographics have become extremely popular online in the last few years. Since so much information about our history is tied to the flag business, as an additional resource to our customers, educators and others interested in learning more about your nation’s rich history we have decided to offer a series of Infographics on our Website.
All of FlagandBanner.com infographics come with 2 options. A standard JPG image or a PDF file usually created to fit standard printer paper such as 8.5″x11″, 8.5″x14″, and 11″x17″ for ease of printing for classroom use.
We have made the graphics easy to share via Facebook or using an embed code in your website or blog.
Our first infographic is about the 4th of July or Independence day.
This infographic provides facts and figures from various sources including the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. News & World Reports among others.
Information you might learn: What year was the first official Independence Day celebration? Why is July 4th significant in Denmark? The answer just might surprise you.
The next one posted was for today, which is Flag Day! A very underrated holiday in our opinion and it in fact kicks off Honor America Days which Congress passed in 1998. The 21 days between today and the 4th of July are days in which to honor our nation.
Check out the infographics and use them to educate and entertain.
May
31
How to “Dress a Ship” with International Code Signal Flags
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Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) May 29, 2013
Summer national holidays are coming up and so are many regattas and events for ship and boat enthusiasts. During these special occasions, ships and boats often “dress ship” with International Code Signal flags.
International code flags are used to signal messages between two ships or between ship and shore. Also called signal flags, they are a set of flags of different colors, shapes and markings which used alone or in combination have different meanings.
The flags include 26 square flags which depict the letters of the alphabet, ten numeral pendants, one answering pendant, and three substituters or repeaters. Only a few colors can be readily distinguished at sea. These are: red, blue, yellow, black, and white; and these cannot be mixed indiscriminately. You will notice, for clarity, the flags shown are either red and white, yellow and blue, blue and white, or black and white; besides plain red, white, and blue.
When dressing a ship with International Code flags, the ship or boat is dressed at 8 a.m., and remains dressed until evening hours. The vessel is dressed while at anchor only, except for during maiden (first) and final voyages, and participation in a marine parade or other unique situation.
When dressing a ship, the national ensign is also hoisted at the stern staff (and the Union Jack may be displayed at the bow staff on government vessels). The rainbow of flags of the International Code is arranged, reaching from the water line forward to the water line aft, by way of the bowsprit end (or stem if there’s no bowsprit) and the masthead(s).
Flags and pennants are bent alternately, rather than in any indiscriminate manner. Since there are twice as many letter flags as numeral pennants, it is good practice, as in the Navy, to follow a sequence of two flags, one pennant, two flags, one pennant, throughout.
The sequence recommended here provides a harmonious color pattern throughout:
Starting from forward: AB2, UJ1, KE3, GH6, IV5, FL4, DM7, PO Third Repeater, RN First Repeater, ST Zero, CX9, WQ8, ZY Second Repeater.
You can purchase International Code of Signal flags to dress your ship at FlagandBanner.com. Call their Flag Experts at 1-800-445-0653 to answer other nautical flag display questions, or find more supplies to dress your ship or boat, or even have personal ensign made. They even carry nautical flagpoles with yardarms!FlagandBanner.com is more than just a flag store; they are Flag Experts with more than 38 years in the flag
May
24
FlagandBanner.com in cooperation with the American Legion of Arkansas and the Boy Scouts of America will host a Flag Day event on June 14, 2013. This event is for proper flag retirement. We encourage our customers to bring in their old tattered, faded or torn U.S. flags to be given an honorable and proper retirement. The Boy Scouts will be on hand to perform the ceremony which earns them a badge.
Dave Elswick from KARN will be broadcasting live from the event. There will be popcorn, hot dogs and other refreshments available at this family friendly patriotic event. Prizes will be given out during the event and customers who bring a flag to be retired will receive a coupon for $5 off your new flag purchase.
Check out our flyer for more information!
May
2
Misinformed New York Town Bans Gadsden Flag
Filed Under AFB Press Releases, UnCategorized | Leave a Comment
Earlier this month, the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association in New Rochelle, New York were told they could not fly the Gadsden flag because it was seen as an “offensive” Tea Party symbol. The Gadsden flag is the bright yellow “Don’t Tread On Me” flag that has been seen most recently at Boston Marathon bombing memorials. The Gadsden flag ironically represents freewill against oppression.
The Gadsden is not a symbol of the Tea Party or any other political group. While the Tea Party group does use the Gadsden flag at rallies and political events, it is not their symbol. The Gadsden has been in use since the Revolutionary war. The Navy and Marine Corps first used it in 1775. Ships on the sea at a distance could easily see the bright yellow color.
“The original flag was designed to show Great Britain that the American Colonies would no longer accept “being walked all over”, said FlagandBanner.com president Kerry McCoy. “The colonists were angry about taxation and the very idea that a King who had never stepped foot on American soil could control their fate.”
The Gadsden flag has been used throughout American history as a symbol against oppression or in the last few decades, as a symbol to show the world that the American people will not be cowed by terrorism. Labeling the flag as a certain political parties’ flag would be an incorrect assumption.
The human race has used flags for more than 4,000 years according to researchers. The first flags were made of metal and then about 2000 years ago, fabric was added as decoration and then continued to evolve to the flags we know of today.
In medieval times, knights carried flags into battle so that the soldiers could tell friend from foe during the confusion of battle. Likewise, modern soldiers have flags sewn on their uniforms for easy identification during battle.
Today, every nation in the world has their own flag, with symbols or colors representing their nation. The American flag for example has 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies and 50 stars to represent the 50 states.
In America, every state has their own flag and many groups and corporations also have their own flags. The Olympic flag is a good example of a group using symbols as representation of their goals. The Olympic flag has 5 rings that represent the coming together of people from five continents in friendly competition.
Flags can represent many things at once including messages, identification, or just used for beautification. One flag may represent many different things to different people and one flag may have many different styles or uses.
In fact, the Gadsden flag itself has several more connotations from history, the snake against a white field, or a red and white striped field. You can see examples at FlagandBanner.com.
Apr
15
FlagandBanner.com opens second location in NW Arkansas
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Fayetteville, Ark., Chamber of Commerce hosts FlagandBanner.com ribbon cutting on April 11, 2013.
FlagandBanner.com has opened a new office in Fayetteville, Ark., with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce on April 11, 2013.
The new location will be managed by Jack McCoy. McCoy is the son of FlagandBanner.com owners Kerry and Grady McCoy. Kerry McCoy says, “We are excited our son, Jack, has chosen to work in the family business and we are thrilled it is in Fayetteville. The North West area of Arkansas is a rapidly growing part of our state and we want to be a part of it, too.”
“Opening a new location to serve North West Arkansas provides additional benefits to our customers in that area,” Jack McCoy says. While FlagandBanner.com has always served customers across Arkansas and the nation via their website, now North West Arkansas customers can enjoy the added benefit of a local salesperson for on-site consultations and local installation services of flagpoles or other specialty banner and commercial display installations.
FlagandBanner.com is based in Little Rock, Ark., and has been in business since 1975. They have been selling flags, flagpoles, banners, pennants and home and garden décor online nationally since 1995.
For more information about the 22,000 products Arkansas’s FlagandBanner.com provides, log on to FlagandBanner.com. Become a fan of FlagandBanner.com on Facebook, or call one of their experts at 1-800-445-0653.
Apr
15
Keeping Jobs in America
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Little Rock, Ark. (PRWEB) March 30, 2013
As the recession lifts so are flags, banners, and pennants created in America by FlagandBanner.com for some pretty cool people and places across the country and American interests overseas. All of the products are made in America and help to improve the nation’s recovering economy.
According to recent articles in Advertising Age magazine among others, products “Made in USA” are starting to gain popularity with both American businesses and consumers. According to one poll of 1000 Americans, 80% of them said they would rather buy American when they could and generally pay more for American made products.
This recent trend not only helps small American businesses that still manufacture in the U.S. but helps to grow the economy and bring manufacturing back home. These orders aren’t just coming from the average small business, some are quite big names. Recent orders from some bigger (famous) names have included ceremonial banner hangers for popular late night show “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on NBC and flags for Tyler Perry Studio to be used as set decoration in Perry’s next movie.
In the world of arts and history the Georgia O’Keefe museum ordered custom banners, Walton Art Center and the Kimbell Art Museum also ordered custom products. The Henry Ford Museum ordered our stock patriotic bunting and American flag pennants. So, if you are planning a trip this summer to those museums then you will be seeing some of FlagandBanner.com’s work. Perhaps it might drum up a sense of patriotism knowing that these products and these customers kept American’s working through a tough economic downturn.
Other American companies and government or military facilities working with an American manufacturer to keep jobs in America were Amazon.com, Augusta Golf Course, Lockheed Martin, P. Allen Smith, Anheuser Busch Beverage, Central Park Conservancy, Air Force Academy Society, U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Chief of Naval Air Training, Walmart Distribution Center and Chick-fil-A just to name a few.
Kerry McCoy, owner of Arkansas’s FlagandBanner.com, says, “It is always a great sign when you see orders like these coming in from around the country. It says things are looking up, 2013 looks to be the year things get back to normal.”
McCoy says, “It’s always fun to see your products on TV and it’s especially nice that all of these items were made right here in America and helped to support American jobs.”
Arkansas Flag and Banner, Inc., was established in 1975. Its headquarters are in Little Rock, AR with 25 employees.
Need to know when to fly the American flag at half staff? Sign up for Flag Alerts, timely e-mails notifying you when the President has proclaimed the flag to be flown at half staff. Need to learn about flag etiquette and flag history? Visit FlagandBanner.com for helpful documents that will teach you everything you need to know about flags.
For more information about the 22,000 products FlagandBanner.com provides, log on to FlagandBanner.com, become a fan of FlagandBanner.com on Facebook, or call one of their experts at 1-800-445-0653.
Mar
18
AFB and the 100th Anniversary of the Arkansas State Flag
Filed Under AFB Press Releases, AFB Video Archive, AFB on TV | Leave a Comment
Mar
6
What $400, a dream and hard work get you.
Filed Under Current Events, Dreamland Ballroom, Speeches | Leave a Comment
- Kerry McCoy, president of FlagandBanner.com speaks at Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Meeting on Feb. 25, 2013.
Hello. Thank you for inviting me and thank you for that nice introduction.
I frequently get asked to speak and I always wonder what the audience would like to hear about.
- Flag etiquette
- There is the history of the flag
- The story of how I started my business
- The things I’ve learned in business
- The Flag Industry as a whole
- The status of the Dreamland Ballroom project
I only have about 10 or 15 minutes so I am going to try and hit them all. Here’s the first one, flag etiquette. The US flag always goes on its right.
Next we all know the story of how Betsy Ross in 1776, secretly, hand-sewed the first flag for her friend George Washington. And as with everything, there is much debate over whether it really was she or someone else.
Prior to this Betsy Ross Flag, an array of flags were used mostly naval like these top two and then the third flag showing allegiance to the motherland Great Britain.
More popular and well known flags are the Bennington, the Gadsen made popular by Ben Franklin, and the Confederate Battle Flag and Bonnie Blue.
Currently, this is the 100 year anniversary of our Arkansas’ flag. Yes 100 years ago the USS Arkansas Battleship was being commissioned and it was noticed we didn’t have a flag for the ceremony. Arkansas had gone 76 years without a flag. The DAR of Pine Bluff held a state wide contest and it was Willie Kavanaugh Hocker’s design that was chosen. It is not much different than the flag we fly today. The diamond because we are the only state with diamonds, the 3 stars to represent, France, Spain, and Great Britan, all of which reign over Arkansas at some time. Later the Confederate star was added and the name Arkansas.
Moving on to the next topic on my list…my story, is kinda the American Dream come true. I started AFB when I was just 20 years old, on $400 and I sell the most American product there is…the American Flag.
38 years ago, in 1975 the American Flag was my main product, but since then AFB’s product line has grown and the business has changed many times over.
I did not get into this business for the reasons you may think… like I love flags, or I am excessively patriotic or even that I am the smartest person in the world. No rather it was more of a series of Bad Luck.
I had just graduated from school and was ready to start my adult life. When boom the recessions of 1974 hits. There were gas shortages and long lines at the gas pump.
It was similar to today’s recession with expensive gas and jobs scarsity. But you gotta do what you gotta do and I had to have a job. I went to Snelling and Snelling, an employment agency and found a job selling flags for Betsy Ross Flag Girls in Dallas TX.
After about 6 months of working I became homesick and with the help of my father and mother, entrepreneurs themselves, I started my flag businesses. Dad gave me a desk and a phone in the back of his office.
I had saved $400 which I used to buy a city permit, print business cards and buy a yellow page ad. I found a flag manufacturer that would supply me, now all I had to do was decide on a name for my new business and start selling.
Once a name was settle and business cards printed, I began selling door to door or should I say business to business.
It sounds easy but it wasn’t, some of the problems I faced and solved were:
- Capital (money) – for the first 9 years I worked part time jobs while I built AFB. Every time I sold a flag I bought a flag for inventory. Another problem,
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Staffing – You need help but can’t afford it. So you must be creative. Not everyone chooses there job based on money. Some people work for flexible hours, health insurance, locale to their home, or for work experience to put on their resume. One of my favorite and most creative work models happened out of necessity; I offered in-house daycare. It was before digital printing, when everything had to sewn. I had many seamstresses and we were all of the child bearing age. It was not unusual to see nursing babies at break or to find infants lying on sewing tables.
- Growing – you know the predicament, you can’t grow without more cash and you can’t get more cash without growing. Remember your family and friends…I used a desk in my dad’s office. For short term loans, your friends and family are faster and cheaper to establish. But you must keep it lawful with current interest rates and usury laws applied.
In the last 38 years, the business climate in America has been through many changes. AFB has gone through them too. We may have started by selling traditional flags, such as US, State, Foreign, and Historical but we have grown far beyond that. We like to say “We’re More Than Just a Flag Store” with over 20,000 products online, encompassing a wide range of merchandise. Sure we still sell flags and flagpoles, but we now offer, home decorating and entertaining, apparel and jewelry… all with a patriotic or Razorback theme. In addition we are known around the world for our custom banners, we have adorned such prestigious places as the Smithsonian, Dallas Museum of Art, Fields Museum, Presidential Elections, Olympic competitions. Currently we are making a big splash in the entertainment industry with product placement on shows like 30 Rock, In Plain Site, Top Shot, Extreme Makeover, Snow White, just to name a few. Some of you may recognize this banner recently in downtown Little Rock.
What began in 1975 as a door to door, sole propriety business has grown into a corporation with more than 30 employees and over 3 million in sales. Change seems to be the key to my success and a must for a success in today’s business world. I have navigated AFB through many changes. The business that began as door to door sales company morphed into a telemarketing business, which changed into a catalog business. We added manufacturing, and a retail store. In 1995 I heard about the internet and I am proud to say we are now a thriving internet company.
Things I have learned:
- Strife, builds character.
- Necessity, leads to opportunities.
- Change is today’s business model.
- Family, are your best supporters and lenders.
- Employees, want home and work balance in their live.
The climate of the flag industry is good. It grew 20% last year. We are a small niche group and if you take the whole of the flag industry, it probably wouldn’t come to a billion dollars which is why we fly under the radar of corporate raiders and the like.
I have been buying Flags from the same manufacturer for 38 years, Annin and Company. They are a 4th generation family owned, US flag manufacturer, who’s great, great, great grandfather in the 1800’s, found a niche in making flags. He noticed when the boats arrived from Europe bearing saleable goods that Americans wanted flags and there were never enough of them. So he converted his tailor shop into a flag shop and the rest is history. In the 2004 election, George Bush made it one of his campaign stops at Annin Flag Co.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my newest project The Dreamland Ballroom. Everyone knows where Arkansas Flag and Banner is on the I-630. Well on the 3rd floor of that building is the Dreamland Ballroom. This is a really special place for many reasons:
- It is the last original building on 9th Street, Little Rock’s little Harlem
- It has a rich history of music because it venue on the famous “Chitlin Circuit” hosting such greats as the young bb king, Etta James, Red Fox, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole, just to name a few.
- And what is great for our city, is Dreamland is one of a handful of ballrooms in America that has not been converted into a restaurant or apartments
It is such a special place, that a history book has been written with the support of UALR. And AETN is making a documentary about its history. On May 1, we will be having a book signing and brick dedication. I have put an invitation on all of your tables and a brick paver form if you want to be part of the brick dedicating ceremony.
In conclusion I would like to say
- Leadership – means being strong and making strong decisions in support of your family and good employees.
- Learning – you can never stop. Whatever your learning style is, do it.
- Experience – pay it forward – this comes slowly and is invaluable. If you have it, you’re obligated to share and teach it.
On that note, I hope some of you have gotten something out of my story. Something you can use today and pay it forward tomorrow.
Mar
1
February 2013 marked the 100th anniversary of the Arkansas state flag. Kerry made two TV appearances to promote this piece of Arkansas history. Here is the video from one of those appearances.