Connect with us

Ohio

Sewing the Stars and Stripes: Ohio’s tie to the American flag

Published

on

Sewing the Stars and Stripes: Ohio’s tie to the American flag


Americans celebrate Independence Day with parade floats decked out in red, white and blue, hot dogs fresh off the grill, and sparkler streaked sketches into the summer night.

But perhaps no symbol is more iconic of Fourth of July festivities than the American flag itself.

The national emblem flies all over the world, but many started from strips of fabric at a warehouse in a small Ohio city.

Making American flags

When Director of Operations Bobbi Parks opens a set of double doors to Annin Flagmakers’ Coshocton factory, the space comes alive with the sounds of humming sewing machines.

Advertisement

“All the way down through here are our sewing cells,” she said, walking past workers stitching together ribbons of red and white fabric from 500-yard spools.

“This here is our stripe department.”

Flag makers sew stripes together in sets of sixes and sevens. One set attaches to a blue field filled with 50 white stars. The other connects underneath, tying the banner together.

“There’s a sense of pride in what we do,” said flag maker Jonna Smith. “You go down the street and see them hanging on the poles, and you’re like, ‘Hey, I probably made that.’”

With 12 years under her belt, Smith is one of the factory’s newer hires. Many of her coworkers have been here upwards of two, three, even four decades.

But Annin Flagmakers has been in business long before them.

Advertisement

A history of Annin Flagmakers

The company started in 1847 in New York City, when two young entrepreneurs took over their father’s business. Instead of continuing the ship chandlery, Edward and Benjamin Annin — who were just 15 and 13 at the time — decided to focus on flags.

They got the business started just in time to supply American flags to the army during the Mexican-American War and later, the Civil War.

Since then, the company has made some iconic banners: the flag draped over Abraham Lincoln’s casket, the flag raised by U.S. Marines at Iwo Jima, the flag on the moon and the flags at every presidential inauguration since Zachary Taylor.

Annin Flagmakers expanded to Coshocton nearly 50 years ago. It’s now one of three factories in the county. Two others in Virginia embroider stars and print state and custom flags, while the Coshocton facility focuses mainly on producing American flags.

After terrorists attacked the World Trade Center on 9/11, workers at this location pieced together the Red, White and Blue. Production manager Kelly Watson remembers demand for flags was so high, the factory could hardly keep up.

Advertisement

“We had truck drivers that sat outside for like two, three hours waiting on the women to sew so they could take off with finished flags,” she said.

It was a time when patriotism was fervent.

“I mean, everybody flew a flag,” she said.

These days, demand isn’t quite what it was post-9/11, but it’s still high. Workers at the Coshocton factory alone make upwards of 50,000 flags a week during peak season, Parks said.

So if you’re raising a flag this Fourth of July or waving one in the neighborhood parade, it just might be made right here in Ohio.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Ohio

Enrollment opens for Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership

Published

on

Enrollment opens for Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership


Enrollment has opened for the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership, a program meant to incentivize “property owners to provide land access to hunters.”


What You Need To Know

  • Enrollment has opened for the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership
  • The program is meant to incentivize “property owners to provide land access to hunters”
  • ODNR says almost 20,000 acres have enrolled since the program began
  • Hunters can access these lands from September to June, assuming they have a free daily access permit

According to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources, enrollment for the program, which launched back in 2021, is open through July 15. ODNR said almost 20,000 acres have enrolled since the program began.

“Landowners can receive annual payments ranging from $2 per acre for crop land to $30 per acre for perennial wildlife habitats such as grasslands, wetlands, and forests,” the release reads. “Enrollment contracts are two years, with the possibility of re-enrollment.”

Hunters can access these lands from September to June, assuming they have a free daily access permit. Those permits are given out first-come-first-serve in order to not crowd land according to a press release from ODNR.

The hunters are given rules for the property, and the owner of the land is told when hunters will be on their property.

Advertisement

“All hunting activities except white-tailed deer gun hunting and trapping are permitted by Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership users,” the release reads. “Permits can be obtained at wildohio.gov or on the free HuntFish OH mobile app.”

Part of the funding for this program comes via the federal Farm Bill. ODNR said a recent survey found more than 80% of responding landowners in the program would recommend it to others.

If you are interested in enrolling your property, click here.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Ohio

40th NW Ohio Rib Off set for July 26-28

Published

on

40th NW Ohio Rib Off set for July 26-28


TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – The Lucas County Fairgrounds is set to host the 40th NW Ohio Rib Off in the coming weeks.

The weekend of festivities will be held July 26-28, with activities, live music acts, and of course, plenty of pork.

Local and national ribbers will compete to be crowned the 2024 Northwest Ohio Rib Off Champions.

Admission is free to those that arrive before 2 p.m.

Advertisement

The Gin Blossoms and Brett Young will headline concerts on Friday and Saturday night, respectively. Van Halen cover band JUMP: America’s Van Halen Experience performs Sunday.

A double elimination cornhole tournament is set for Saturday.

Ticket and event information can be found here.

Latest Local News | First Alert Weather | Crime | National | 13abc Originals

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Ohio

Number One 2025 Wide Receiver Picks Oregon Over Ohio State

Published

on

Number One 2025 Wide Receiver Picks Oregon Over Ohio State


Recruiting fireworks put a close to this 4th of July as the top wide receiver prospect in the 2025 class made his official commitment to the Oregon Ducks.

Dakorien Moore chose Oregon over Ohio State, Texas and LSU.

Moore was previously committed to the LSU Tigers since August, but decommitted back in May. After reopening his recruitment it appeared like LSU had slid down the list despite remaining in his top four.

The Oregon Ducks are not only getting the number one overall receiver in the 2025 class, but also the number three overall prospect in the country.

The 5’11” and 182-pound star receiver from Duncanville, Texas caught 65 passes for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns in his junior season. When asked on Instagram live during the announcement about whether he would change his commitment again, Moore stated that he was done after this and putting all of his focus towards his senior season.

Prior to Moore’s commitment to the Oregon Ducks, On3 ranked Oregon at fifth overall in the 2025 rankings and 247 Sports has the Ducks at seventh overall. Moore will not only be a great bump for head coach Dan Lanning’s group, but will also potentially be able to make an impact early due to several veteran receivers prepared to go to the NFL in the next year or two.

Advertisement

As for the Buckeyes, snagging Moore felt like more of a long-shot but they had a chance. Their next chance to snag a five-star wide receiver is Jaime Ffrench in this same 2025 class. Ffrench is considered the fourth best wide receiver on 247 Sports and the crystal ball predictions have been trending in favor of the Buckeyes over Texas and a few other schools.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending