Custom Spotlight: The Mark Forester Foundation

       At Carrot-Top Industries, we’re lucky to work with amazing customers and we're honored to hear so many inspirational stories from them every day. Here is the story of Senior Airman Mark Forester and the custom work his mother, Pat Forester, had made to honor him.

Senior Airman, Mark Forester

        Pat’s son, Mark Forester, was inspired to serve his country after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.  After completing his college degree at the University of Alabama in 2007,  Mark enlisted in the Air Force, despite recommendations to enter as an officer. He knew he wanted to work hard and be in the action so he could make a difference. Mark even had his mother mail him an American flag to wear wrapped around his body armor under his uniform. Mark worked his way up to Senior Airman, serving as a member of the 21st Special Tactics Squadron based in North Carolina.

Sadly, on September 29, 2010, Senior Airman Mark Forester was killed in action in Afghanistan while attempting to rescue a fallen comrade. Channeling her son’s determination and spirit, Pat created the Mark Forester Foundation to celebrate his memory.

The Mark Forester Foundation logo

Pat contacted us to discuss her idea for custom digital flags to help her fundraising efforts. It's clear from talking to her that she has an immense amount of pride for her son and the foundation that honors his legacy. This year, on May 18, the foundation hosted the third annual Price of Freedom Race in Haleyville, Alabama. The race helps raise money for the foundation, allowing it to support an annual scholarship and other causes throughout the year. The Price of Freedom Scholarship is awarded annually by the foundation to a deserving Haleyville High School student. Students presented with this scholarship exemplify Mark’s spirit and patriotism.

With the race right around the corner, Pat wanted a flag that could easily be displayed at the homes of the foundation’s supporters. We suggested the 12"x18” memorial garden flag to honor her son and the foundation. She had several pieces of artwork to incorporate into her design and our innovative graphic artists stepped up to the challenge. By using a photo of her son, the foundation logo, and by adding text, we helped bring her vision to life. Pat gave her seal of approval on the design and we were able to produce and deliver the flags a few weeks later. We also created a larger, 2’x3’ flag featuring the same design to be displayed at Pat’s home. Having the opportunity to be inspired by Pat’s amazing story and the love she has for her son was priceless. Knowing that we helped her honor her son’s memory will hold a place in our hearts forever. You can find out more about Mark's life and The Mark Forester Foundation by visiting www.markaforester.com. There you can support the foundation and its mission by donating money online.

   If you want to honor a loved one or promote your organization, think about a custom flag from Carrot-Top Industries. Not sure what size or product will work best for your needs? Don’t worry, our experienced customer service representatives are here help you find the best product for you. Whether you're a city looking to showcase community with custom street banners, a school in need of a custom table throws and indoor US flag sets for a guest speaker, or an organization participating in a local veterans fundraising program ready to pass out handheld US flags, we are here to help! Call us (800.628.3524), or stop by if you're local!

Spotlight: Eastern Alamance HS

Sammy Ballard, second year Assistant Varsity Softball coach for Eastern Alamance High School, knew where to go when he wanted to put the finishing touches on their new softball field. At the end of January, Sammy stopped by our Hillsborough, NC headquarters and was greeted by none other than our own Tabetha, featured in our March Employee Spotlight! 

Detailed photo of our custom vinyl mesh banners

Sammy was looking for a custom flag and had a desire to honor the six seniors on this year’s team. Tabetha and Rebecca, one of our experienced graphic artists, assessed his needs and suggested our 8oz Vinyl Mesh Banners to line the fence at the back of the field. These custom banners have a unique construction that allows air flow through the material to reduce wind resistance and feature detailed full-color digital imprinting. Feeling confident in our guidance, Sammy decided on three custom Digital Nylon Flags, one 8oz Vinyl Mesh Banners for each of the six seniors and one 8oz Vinyl Mesh Banner to honor their two 2012 Allstate players.

After returning to Eastern Alamance and receiving our quote, Randy Ballard, Eastern Alamance’s Varsity Baseball coach, decided his nine seniors had to be honored in the same way and we sent another quote out to him. Within the week both quotes were approved and Sammy dropped by with a CD of player photos. Sammy requested the designs be reminiscent of a baseball card so our graphic artists got to work converting their logo and adding a blue sky background to the photos. Layouts were emailed to Sammy for approval and the details were quickly finalized with plenty of time to have the banners hung by the beginning of the season. 

Artwork for the custom banners

            When we caught up with Sammy at the field for practice to get some photos of the new banners last week we were able to congratulate the Eagles Varsity Softball team on their 7-3 this season so far! We are cheering for you Eagles!  

Assistant Varsity Softball Coach Sammy!

While everyone here at Carrot-Top Industries strives to provide outstanding guidance to the perfect product, it’s the spirit, pride and honor in our customers that really shines through. Sammy, like so many of the great customers we help, is full of pride and enthusiasm for his school. He has been Eastern Alamance’s #1 fan for twelve years as their Eagles mascot! Not only does he know how to work a crowd, but he’s teaching his players that honor is earned when you work hard for what you want. Each senior will be given their banner at the end of the season to remind them of the lessons they learned as they continue their journeys. We’re honored to have worked with Sammy and everyone at Eastern Alamance High School on this project. And to think, Sammy stopped in looking for just one flag!

At Carrot-Top Industries, we specialize in helping schools, colleges and universities make their campus and athletic facilities look great. Whether you're looking for something as simple as new custom mats for the entrance or a project like Sammy's involving multiple custom banners and custom flags, we're here to help. Give us a call (800.628.3524), or stop by if you're local, and a knowledgeable and friendly customer service rep will be happy to assist you. We're happy to provide quotes and even send you sample fabric so you know exactly what you're getting before you order. 

Keep America Beautiful Month

April is Keep American Beautiful Month, a time to focus on everything from litter prevention to community improvement. In addition to Keep America Beautiful month, we also celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day in April as a way to keep our whole planet beautiful.

60 years ago, in 1953, organized by a group of individuals like Philip Morris, Pepsi Co, and Coca-Cola to name a few, formed A nonprofit organization was formed that aimed to bring national attention to reducing littering and beautifying communities. Since then Keep America Beautiful has become one of the nations largest volunteer based community groups. This year KAB is striving to do even more to call attention to their cause with the unveiling of a social media hub at the 2013 SXSW in Austin, Texas.

Launching The Digital Cleanup

Using the progressive audience and innovative spirit of SXSW, KAB introduced the Social Volunteer Hub. By using the Great American Cleanup program and the hub, volunteers have a way to share in real time their cleanup experiences just by using the hashtag #KeepAmericaBeautiful on social media outlets like Twitter and Instagram. Along with bringing the cleanup story to life, KAB also introduced their Communities Impact Goals for 2013 which included cleaning 100,000 miles of roads and highways, rebuilding playgrounds, and educating children to become the next generation of environmental stewards.  With the launch of this technology Keep America Beautiful hopes to inspire more communities to get involved in building and sustaining a vibrant community. 

Other Holidays in April

Since the first Earth Day in 1970, inspired by an oil spill, people across the globe have used April 22nd to bring awareness and attention to environmental degradation so we can protect our planet.

In addition to Earth Day, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April. The Arbor Day Foundation works to ensure that America continues to have forests for our future generations to enjoy. If you’re interested in planning trees in your area, simply join the Arbor Day Foundation and they’ll send you 10 trees for free!

Of course none of these groups or events could happen without the great people that help day in and day out… the volunteers. From April 6-13, volunteers are celebrated for the extraordinary service they provide and the impact they make in our communities. Take time this April to celebrate National Volunteer Week and take part in restoring and enhancing our world.

Beautifying Main Street

With spring here, it’s also time for schools, cities and businesses to participate in their own beatification projects. Whether it’s a new street banner program for your town’s historic area, or new custom flags and custom banners to show your pride, Carrot-Top can help you make your town, business or school beautiful.  

Make sure littering isn't a problem year-round with a commercial trash can. We offer many sizes and styles, so no matter where you’re located we have you covered. Try our cigarette receptacles or smokers posts and eliminate unsightly cigarette butts.

We’re here to help and we have tons of ideas so give us a call (800.628.3524) and a customer service representative will be happy to assist you in making your town, business or school more attractive and inviting! 

Memorial Flags

This photo was sent to us by a customer whose church had a Veteran's Day memorial with the names of veterans tied to cemetery marking flags. The black ribbons are for members who died in the last 5 years.

Customer submitted photo

We always love to see how customers are using our products. Please send us your photos for us to feature online and in our catalog! 

History of Durham and its City Flag

         The City Durham flag features four colors; royal blue, red, gold and white. Each color represents a core value or principle of Durham. The blue is for courage, red for action and progress, gold for high quality in all growth and white represents lofty ideas. The seven stars represent seven features of Durham that make the city what it is; the arts, commerce and industry, education, medicine, human relations, sports and recreation and the preservation of Durham’s heritage.

          Carrot-Top Industries is proud to offer high-quality, City of Durham flags for sale that are 100% made in America. These City of Durham flags are available to city departments, businesses, residents and even tourists or Durham ex-pats! Show your pride for Durham and celebrate the values and traits that set Durham apart.

Read more about Durham’s history and culture below!

            Before the city was known as Durham, it was a land where tribes like the Occaneechi and the Eno lived and farmed before the Europeans arrived. In 1849, during construction of the North Carolina Railroad, Dr. Bartlett Durham, a physician and entrepreneur, donated some of his land to the project. The railroad in return named the stop “Durham Station” in his honor. Ultimately the town that sprung up around the station became known as Durham.

            In 1865, just a few days after Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox courthouse, the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers took place at Bennett Place in Durham. This lead to the end of the Civil War and a prisoner of war, Washington Duke would be freed. After the war, Duke became a tobacco farmer, eventually starting a tobacco company with his sons. Ultimately the business grew in to the dominant American Tobacco Company. Washington Duke used his significant influence to bring Trinity College to Durham, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars in the late 1890s.  He insisted that women were allowed to attend, “placing them on an equal footing with men.” In 1924, to honor his dedication and generosity to the Trinity College, it was renamed Duke University.

           Durham was not only home to just the American Tobacco Company, but also the home of a progressive economy for African Americans. Different from many other communities, Durham would be known as the “Black Wall Street”, where African America owned businesses provided jobs opportunities for African Americans. Among the notable businesses was the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, the oldest and largest African American life insurance company in the United States.

           Lately Durham has put a lot of energy and resources toward revitalizing the city. Using the seven stars on its flag as a guide, Durham has become a fast growing city that is once again attracting national attention. Starting with the arts, Durham hosts more than 47 annual festivals along with an amazing performing arts center, DPAC. The American Tobacco Campus has become a hub of commerce and top quality education institutions Duke University and North Carolina Central provide the talent to fuel Durham’s growth.

           If you have a chance on your next visit to North Carolina, take the time to visit Durham, with its rich history and vibrant culture.  All you need is a good view of Durham city skyline to sense the historic imprint of its humble beginnings and where it’s heading.  

Employee Spotlight: Tabetha C.

Tabetha C.

Contact Center

Always bringing a friendly smile to the work place, customer service extraordinaire Tabetha has provided expert knowledge at Carrot-Top for the past 3 years. Working with all types of business, education and government customers, she specializes in identifying the perfect combination of products for any special events or branding needs you may have. Whether your school needs new custom mats or you're a town planning for a festival and want new street banners to highlight your downtown, Tabetha can help make sure your event goes off without a hitch.

“One of my favorite moments working at Carrot-Top has to be the moment from the Company 4th of July Picnic. Watching the company president take a pie to the face just to show how much we value everyone that works here and the family like we have become.”

Here is a short video of the president of Carrot-Top Industries taking a pie to the face.

While Tabetha enjoys working at Carrot-Top, when she’s not working you can find her buried in her favorite author, Bertrice Small’s books. Taking a break from reading, Tabetha enjoys indulging in new D.I.Y. projects, like taking old dresses or shirts and transforming them into her own fashion style.

Do you know who created the first American flag? Part II

We continue to dig deeper into the truth of this historic mystery. This week we focus on the second American historical figure that played a key role in the creation of the first American flag.  As we look at Francis Hopkinson’s story you may begin to question the legend of Betsy Ross.

The Legend of Francis Hopkinson

            Looking back at the life of Francis Hopkinson, there is much evidence to suggest that he was the true creator. Being the first to do something is nothing new to Francis Hopkinson, see in his early life he was part of being the first attending class of the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1757. A few years later, he became an attorney, and two years after that he traveled to London to study. Francis would return in 1768, and that same year he would marry Ann Borden. Throughout their marriage they would have five children, including his son Joseph Hopkinson.

            In 1776, just a year after becoming the Continental Congress representative of New Jersey, Francis and 55 others sign the Declaration of Independence. Several months later, Francis left Congress to join the Navy Broad at Philadelphia. In 1789, President George Washington nominated Francis Hopkinson to be the first judge of the Untied States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania. Sadly, only a few years after becoming a judge, Francis Hopkinson died at age 53 of an epileptic seizure.  

            Francis Hopkinson wasn’t only known for his political life, he also made numerous cultural contributions as an amateur songwriter and poet. In addition he is credited as the first natural born American composer to commit a composition to paper. Francis also assisted as part of the second committee in designing the Great Seal of the United States.

The one thing that has been most questioned on Francis Hopkinson’s resume is the design of the original flag. Francis Hopkinson’s design is more similar to the modern American flag than Betsy Ross’ design. The Betsy Ross flag has 5 pointed stars arranged in a circular shape; where as Hopkinson’s flag has 6 pointed stars in a staggered pattern.

In 1780, Hopkinson sent a letter and an itemized bill to Congress that included a 9 pound charge for the flag of the United States. Ultimately the Treasury Board turned down the request, concluding that many others were consulted on the design and he could not claim full credit.

In conclusion

The simple question of who created the first American flag will continue to be debated by historians, but if you ask me, I tend to think that perhaps Francis Hopkinson had sketched out the design for George Washington. Washington, who knew Betsy Ross, then brought the design to her to sew together, with several of her own alterations made in the process.  

Do you know who created the first American flag?

It seems like a simple question, but if you dig deeper you’ll find the truth is shrouded in a bit of history, mystery and legend. I’m going to present the stories of two important American historical figures who are said to have played a key role in the creation of the first American flag. There is no ‘correct’ answer to this question and historians have competing theories to this day. Let us know who you think is most responsible for the first American flag!

Let’s go back to the 1700s; Great Britain just raised taxes on the colonies to increase revenue for the King. The colonies are outraged by this action, calling the taxation unfair. This led to the creation of the Continental Congress, and in 1776 the American loyalists had enough and soon declared independence from Great Britain.  

During this time in the Philadelphia area, not far from the Continental Congress, two figures lived who played key roles in our first flag. A young seamstress known for her upholstery business, where she mended uniforms, flags and other clothing and a man known as a poet, artist and civil servant who was one of the 56 men to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The Legend of Betsy Ross

In Betsy Ross’ early life, her family provided her with the tools and knowledge to be successful later on. On January 1, 1752, Elizabeth Griscom, the daughter Quakers Samuel and Rebecca Griscom, was born.  Elizabeth was an apprentice to her father’s friend William Webster and her Aunt Sarah Griscom, learning the family upholstery business.  During this time she would meet with husband John Ross.

At the age of 21 she was married, but many in her close-nit Quaker community were not pleased. This created a split in her relationship with her family and ultimately her expulsion from the Quaker community. She and her husband started their own upholstery business and joined Christ Church, where George Washington was among their fellow congregants. Her husband died during the Revolutionary War. While she eventually remarried, her second husband was a mariner who was imprisoned in England and charged with treason, eventually succumbing to illness. Finally, she had 5 daughters with her third husband, and worked in her upholstery business until her retirement.  

In 1870 her grandson William Canby, in a paper almost 100 years later to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, claimed his grandmother "made with her hands the first flag." He argued that his grandmother, Betsy Ross, was acquainted with General George Washington. Often she repaired his uniform and other belongings. As the story goes, one day three men from the Continental Congress secretly met with her to discuss making a flag. General Washington pulled a sketch from his pocket, showed it to her and requested that she create a flag from the design. Betsy felt the sketch that had some flaws, so she made a few alterations they all would agree to, creating the Betsy Ross flag.

Some have doubted the Besty Ross legend; do to lack of specific and concrete historical evidence.

Next week we’ll explore the story of Francis Hopkinson and try to uncover the true creator of the first American flag. 

Happy Birthday President Lincoln!

http://unusualkentucky.blogspot.com/2011/05/abraham-lincoln-spirtualist.html

Long after Lincoln’s assassination we still celebrate his life, legacy, and achievements to this day. As America continues becoming a more diverse and inclusive nation, Lincoln’s message and legacy is just as relevant today. Who could have imagined that only 150 years after we fought a war over slavery, we would elect the first African American President? Lincoln is one of America’s greatest leaders, from his fight for human liberty with the Emancipation Proclamation to holding the nation together in one of its darkest hours.

Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. The son of a Kentucky frontiersman Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Lincoln, young Abraham Lincoln grew up in farm life with minimum education. After his mother’s death at the age of 9, he began teaching himself how to read and write with the help of his father’s second wife.  At 22, Lincoln left home and moved to New Salem, IL, where he worked a number of jobs, bonding with the locals and developing a knack for public speaking.

After a career in law, Lincoln challenged incumbent U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas for his seat in 1958. While he ultimately lost the election, the seven debates held across IL raised Lincoln’s profile and helped catapult him to the national stage. Aided by his moderate views on slavery, Lincoln was able to beat better known candidates and secure the Republican nomination for President. In the general election, Lincoln faced Stephen Douglas again, this time in a four way race. Despite not getting a majority of votes, Lincoln was 180 of the 303 electoral votes and became the 16th president of the United States. 

Before he was even inaugurated, seven states had seceded and a month in to his Presidency, Fort Sumter came under attack by Southern troops. In September of 1862, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, effectively declaring the end of slavery. Upon signing the document Lincoln said, “"I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper.”

http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/consequences.htm?showall=0&maxrows=5&startrow=1

It would take 3 more years of the bloodiest and most costly war in American history, but eventually the slaves were freed. On March 28, 1865, General Robert E. Lee, surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, basically ending the Civil War.

Lincoln was re-elected and used his Inaugural Address to set a course to rebuild the nation. Sadly not everyone shared his vision for America and many were angry with the changes happening in America. On April 14, 1865 at a play in Ford’s theatre, Lincoln was assassinated by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth.

 Lincoln’s death would not be the end of his legacy. Our country has come a long way in the past 150 years and much of that change is because of the vision and leadership of President Abraham Lincoln. While today is his actual birthday, there is no federal holiday for Lincoln. Instead we celebrate him on Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday)

Washington's Birthday (a.k.a. Presidents' Day)

      Presidents' day is right around the corner, which means this is a great time to embrace your inner nerd, put on a stovepipe hat and watch one of the great films about past Presidents of the United States. Some teachers may ask their students to dress up like one of the 43 presidents (While President Obama is technically the 44th President, there have only been 43 as Grover Cleveland was the 22 and 24) and give an oral report. I was quite the convincing James K. Polk in 4th grade. Can you top this Mom and her daughter’s awesome Martin Van Buren costume? 

            If you didn’t know, Presidents' Day was originally just Washington’s Birthday and commemorated our first President, George Washington. In 1885 it officially became a federal holiday recognized nationwide and as the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen. It was celebrated on February 22nd, Washington’s actual birthday. In the 1960’s the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed that moved Presidents' day to the third Monday in February.

            While the holiday is technically called Washington’s Birthday to this day, it is most commonly referred to as Presidents' day now and commemorates not only Washington and Lincoln’s February birthdays, but all of our past Presidents. The name change started in the states, with many officially changing the name in the 1980s and 1990s. By the year 2000, Presidents' day was the most commonly used name.  

So what is there to do if you happen to have the day off? If you have the opportunity to travel to the Washington DC area, checkout the George Washington Birthday Parade. It dates back to 1923 and is the largest parade of its kind in the country.  If you can’t make it to Washington, DC find out what is going on in your local area or perhaps take in a little shopping. Presidents' day has become a popular time for retailers to run promotions.

All next week 2/11 – 2/15, Carrot-Top Industries will be having a Presidents' Day Sale featuring 10% off your order. Coupon Code: POTUS. Stock up on American flags, patriotic bunting, fans and other patriotic decorations to show your pride this Presidents' day!

Patriotic Display for Washington's Birthday (Yoho2001, Toronto, ON)

Top 10 Worst National Anthem Performances of All Time

Did she or didn't she, That's the question! One week after the Inauguration Ceremony, people are still talking about Beyonce’s lip syncing controversy. After seeing some of these performances, we can understand why she may have to done it. 

Here are 10 reasons why it may have been a good idea to lip-sync during the Inaugural Ceremony. Looking back at some of the worst performances of the National Anthem, here are the top 10 worst national anthem performance of all time!

10. R. Kelly 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkI7F5u1BGY

9. Rebecca Black

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J5PGCTptC8

8. Maya Rudolph

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIaMtyJroVw

7. Anita Baker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8h84GgJnoM

6. Steven Tyler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHgmot1TuR4

5.Michael Bolton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZrK_kOk8Lw

4.Christina Aguilera 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj5NPNe3jNU

3. Cyndi Lauper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL5RL14x_Rc

2.TN, Chattanooga Officer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3F7FeRhclM

1. Roseanne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkhbpeL-8sY

The Presidential Inauguration

This weekend we celebrated one of America’s greatest events, dating back to the first President of the United States, the Presidential Inauguration. By law the President must be sworn in on January 20th so the President and his family had a private ceremony in the blue room of the White House on Sunday. On Monday there was a public swearing in ceremony, particularly significant because it fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  

The public ceremony themed “Faith in America’s Future” summed up what MLK, Jr. represented. Despite whom you may have voted for in November or party you associate yourself with, the Inauguration is a time for all Americans to celebrate.  Dating back more than two hundred years, the Inauguration has been a right of passage for Presidents and also been a way to show the struggle, resilience, and growth of America. Just to paint a picture here are a few historical moments of past Inaugurations and how they shape what we see today.

            Dating back to the first President, George Washington, we had our first Inaugural ceremony on April 30, 1789. Four years later at his second Inauguration, George Washington gave the shortest address, using just 135 words. Other Inaugural firsts:

1797 President Jefferson - first Inaugural address printed in the newspaper.
1925 President Coolidge - first Inaugural address broadcast by radio nationally

1945 President Truman - first Inaugural address to be televised

1997 Bill Clinton - first inaugural ceremony broadcast live over the internet

2012 President Obama - first President to tweet during the Inaugural ceremony

Let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom. —President Obama

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 21, 2013

The 2013 Inauguration took place at the West front of the Capitol. Hanging in the backdrop were five American flags, on the outer edge hung a pair Betsy Ross flags representing the first 13 colonies. The inner pair of flags were 21 star flags representing Illinois, the home state of President Obama, Finally the center American flag with all 50 stars represents our national unity. Here is a great infographic from MSN news.

Credit: MSN News

 Those weren’t the only stars to see at the Inaugural ceremony. Kelly Clarkson performing “My Country Tis of Thee” , Beyonce performed “The Star Spangled Banner”, and James Taylor performed “Fire and Rain”. 

 

Celebrating MLK Day

In America’s history very few citizens have the privilege of a federal holiday in their honor. It’s a rare thing to come by. What does it take to be worthy of such an honor? One man is recognized for his vision and fight for equality, using a nonviolent approach. This man changed American society by empowering individuals, bridging barriers, and created solutions to solve social problems that plagued the U.S. Every third Monday of January we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday as a tribute to his life’s work.

Martin Luther King, Jr. spent his entire life fighting for equality and justice in American society. He was a key figure in the Montgomery Bus Boycott that followed Rose Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white man. In 1957 King and others founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group that harnessed the power of African American churches to engage in non-violent protests.  In 1963, during the March on Washington, King gave his seminal speech, “I Have a Dream”

He continued to fight for equality as the head of the SCLC until his assassination in April of 1968. Shortly after his death, Rep. John Conyers along with many others fought for a national holiday and years later in 1983 President Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King.  Interestingly it wasn't until 2000 that all fifty states recognized Martin Luther King Day as a holiday, with Arizona (1992), New Hampshire (1999) and Utah (2000) the last to recognize the holiday.

So what can you do to honor Dr. King and his legacy?  Well cities and communities across the country host a range of events.

Photo credit: Newsday/Audrey C. Tiernan

Many communities host MLK Day parades. Here in North Carolina, Greensboro hosts it’s annual MLK Day parade, where 20,000 people are expected to attend. Check your local paper or TV news station to find out if your community holds similar celebrations. You can also visit mlkday.gov for a listing of service opportunities. In Dr. King’s birthplace, Atlanta, there is a weekend of festivities for the whole family. You can find out more information here. No matter what you choose to do, take time this weekend to celebrate Dr. King's legacy and get out there and do something to better your community. 

If your school or town is having an event in and needs any assistance, please contact us at Carrot-Top Industries. We specialize in custom banners, signs, custom decals, parade flag equipment and more. Our customer service representatives are ready to assist you in planning and executing a professional looking event to celebrate MLK Day, or any upcoming holiday. Visit our website (www.carrot-top.com) or give us a call to talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable customer service reps. (800.628.3524).

Remembering September 11th

September 11th 2011 marked the 10 year anniversary of the attacks on our country. Our exclusive 9/11 memorial flag has been designed to commemorate all of the Americans that lost their lives on September 11, 2001. This single sided 3x5 nylon flag will only be available for a short time so hurry and get yours.

September 11, 2001 marked one of the most important events in American history. We lost over 2,700 lives on that day, including 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and civilians from 70 different countries. As a country though, we have picked ourselves up and risen again. Since then, many things have changed for our country, but one thing has remained the same: America's spirit to continue on. We have been the worldwide leader in the war against terrorism, freeing countless people and many countries from the oppressive rule of unjust leaders. We are once again the world's beacon of freedom and hope.

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Memorials

The National 9/11 Flag is one of the largest American flags to fly above the wreckage at Ground Zero. It has become our generation’s Star-Spangled Banner.

Many families and friends of victims have set up memorial funds and projects to give back to their communities and change the world in honor of their loved ones' lives. Examples include:

• Beyond the 11th
• The Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation
• Our Voices Together
• September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
• Heroic Choices (originally the Todd M. Beamer Foundation)
• Tuesday's Children
• 9-11 Garden of Reflection
• LeRoy Homer Foundation
• The Raoul Wallenberg Award was given to New York City in 2001 "For all of its citizens who searched for the missing, cared for the injured, gave comfort to loved ones of the missing or lost, and provided sustenance and encouragement to those who searched through the rubble at Ground Zero."
• Newark International Airport was renamed "Newark Liberty International Airport".

Earth Day!

Earth Day is celebrated April 22 and was set in place to encourage people to take care of our environment. It is important to educate people about our earth and the many ways that we can protect it for future generations. The first Earth day in 1970 marked the beginning of the environmental movement. It was so popular that 20 million Americans participated; since then earth day has spread all across our planet and is now a official United Nations holiday. Earth day has encouraged many acts to go in place which protect our environment from senseless harm. Fly the Earth Day Flag this April 22 to spread knowledge about this important holiday.

The internet has played a huge role in the efforts to  go green. No longer is large amounts of paper needed to convey information across the world. We are able to educate people all over the planet about global warming and boost efforts everywhere. There are many new ways you can use the internet to reduce the amount of paper being used. Send an email, send a ecard, pay a bill online and shop online instead of requesting a large catalog.

There are many easy ways you can go green everyday of the year. This includes recycling, buying green and conserving energy. As a company we are trying to do our part to help the economy, which is why we are bringing earth friendly products to our customers. Check out our products that help you with your needs. We also offer products that are made of recycled materials.You can honor our great country and still go green with our recycled U.S. Flags. You should use solar-power whenever possible to conserve energy. We offer Solar-Powered Flagpole lights individually or in a set. This Earth Day we encourage you to check out local programs to clean up your community.

You may think that one person can not make a difference but if everyone does their part in their small area of the world together we can make a difference! Feel free to share your Earth day photos, activities, poems, celebrations and traditions with us, we would love to hear about them.

Top 10 Best National Anthem Performances of All Time

How closely do you listen to the National Anthem? The words are patriotic and inspirational, ensuring this iconic song stands the test of time.

Throughout the years there have been some great (and terrible!) performances of our National Anthem. We’ve compiled a list of the best, check it out and see if you agree with our list of the top 10 national anthem performances of all time

10. The US Military Academy Choirs

9. Luther Vandross

8. Martina McBride

7. Carrie Underwood

6. Beyonce

5. Cactus Cuties 

4.Jennifer Hudson

3. Jimmy Hendrix

2.Whitney Houston

1. Marvin Gaye