A Utah Air Force Veteran Is Hand-Making American F
Post# of 49624
An Air Force veteran in Utah found a way to turn his love of country into an accidental small business idea.
On "Fox & Friends" this morning, Alica Acuna brought us the story of Josh Vandenbrink, who hand-makes American flags out of steel at Iron Mountain Designs.
Vandenbrink, who was deployed 21 times, said he got the idea after a few fellow veterans poked fun at a small plastic American flag in his workshop.
He responded by making a 70-pound flag out of steel and hanging it on the wall. Soon after, orders started coming in online.
Vandenbrink, however, encountered a setback when he suffered a seizure shortly thereafter.
"I couldn't remember how I made them," he said, explaining that it took three months to relearn the process so he could fill the backlogged orders.
Each flag is made to order, at a cost of $550 each, and the company also produces state flags.
Interestingly, no ink or paint is used during the time-consuming process. Instead, the colors are produced by manipulating rust and using vinegar and other substances.
But one thing the company won't make for you is a flag table.
"You don't eat on the flag. You don't stack anything on the flag," said Vandenbrink, expressing the hope that Americans can someday come together around Old Glory.
He prints the following George Washington quote on the back of each one:
"I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man."
Acuna said she was struck by Vandenbrink's commitment to his belief that the flag belongs to all Americans and should not be used for political statements.