Big Thunder Draft Horse Show – Loveland, CO
Hello:
Attached is a picture of my Belgian horses, Jess and Jim, pulling our 1890 chuck wagon at the Big Thunder Draft Horse Show held in Loveland, Colorado on January 14, 15, and 16. I was asked by the Northern Colorado Draft Horse Association if I would present the American flag using our chuck wagon at the beginning of each performance for the National Anthem. So, I used the Flags of Honor and Heroes to present the flag for this event. I wrote a script for the announcer that explained the purpose and origin of each flags. While you do not see the spectators in the background, approximately 8,000 were in attendance. While I had the chuck wagon displayed between events, many people came by to observe the flags. On one occasion, I found a man looking for his brother’s name who had died in one of the Towers. I climbed up on the wagon, searched the flag and found his name. Tears were rolling down his face. Another woman also found her brothers name as well with the same result.
Leroy Leavitt
(Full email thread below)
Hello:
Several years ago I purchased a set of the Honor and Hero flags. When I went to your website a few months ago and opened your photo gallery, I was surprised to see a photo of my two Belgian horses pulling our wagon with the flags on back through our neighborhood. My neighbor, Pauline Brown, caught my wife and me out for a wagon ride on Memorial Day and took the picture that she must have forwarded to you.
In any event, attached is a picture of my Belgian horses, Jess and Jim, pulling our 1890 chuck wagon at the Big Thunder Draft Horse Show held in Loveland, Colorado on January 14, 15, and 16. I was asked by the Northern Colorado Draft Horse Association if I would present the American flag using our chuck wagon at the beginning of each performance for the National Anthem. So, I used the Flags of Honor and Heroes to present the flag for this event. I wrote a script for the announcer that explained the purpose and origin of each flags. While you do not see the spectators in the background, approximately 8,000 were in attendance. While I had the chuck wagon displayed between events, many people came by to observe the flags. On one occasion, I found a man looking for his brother’s name who had died in one of the Towers. I climbed up on the wagon, searched the flag and found his name. Tears were rolling down his face. Another woman also found her brothers name as well with the same result.
Also, my wife and I have flown the Flags of Honor and Heroes on the chuck wagon in the Greeley Stampede July 4th Parade for many years. This July 4th parade is the largest 4th of July parade in the Nation with nearly 100,000 in attendance. On July 4, 2002, the Greeley Stampede Committee flew in a number of surviving NYC firemen, policemen and paramedics for this parade. My wife and I had the privilege of having five NYC policemen ride in this parade with us in our wagon.
Thank you for designing these flags which helps keep alive the memory of those Americans lost on 9/11/01.
Leroy Leavitt
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Dear Mr. Leavitt,
Thank you so very much for your note and photo. Bob and Pauline have been among our greatest supporters and in fact stayed with my wife and I during their visit to the 5th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial field in NYC. We consider them good friends.
Your experience with folks viewing the flag is not unique. So many times I have found family and friends of those who perished pointing with tears in their eyes to the name of those they lost. I can only imagine the depth of their sadness having lost someone to such a senseless tragedy. Yet they seem to appreciate the gesture of having the names on thousands of flags that will survive for many generations. I can only hope it gives them a degree of comfort.
This year we have designed a 10th Anniversary Edition Flag of Honor and Flag of Heroes. Instead of having the names written onto the stripes, the names are printed in red and blue and actually create the stripes. Just as we collectively create America, so do these names create the flags on which they appear. They are truly outstanding.
I would be honored to send you a set for your displays. All I need is your zip code. If I can be of any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me in the future. Please say “HI” to Bob and Pauline for me. Thank you and God Bless.
John Michelotti
Flag of Honor/Flag of Heroes Project