50FT US Flag in the UK

[nickb]

Hi Guys,
I am a british citizen. I recently directed a music video which was a homage to the awesome TOP GUN movie. We ended up buying a 50ft x 30FT USA flag which looked awe inspiring.

The flag is NYLON and purchased from embassy flag for $1801
Embassy Flag: distributor of international flags, flags of the USA, flagpoles and flag accessories

It has only been used once and is now safely folded up in my office. The thing is, my producer wants me to sell it to recoup some of the money, and i'm not sure the best way of doing this. I don't want to offend anyone and it would be nice if it went to a good home.

If anyone has any ideas of how i should go about this, they would be much appreciated.

Regards, Nick

[rosco4069]

As a former decorator of many many many US themed events, you are going to have a very hard time selling it. I will tell you from years of experience in renting out these items, we could go 3-4 years without a request to rent one at a quarter of your purchase.

If you store it for a while, fold it horizantally to about a 60cm(24") or so, then put an acid free tissue paper along the back and fold it inwardly(into center) keeping th paper in the fold. This will lower the moisture and prevent mildew in the folding/storing process process.

[Robin Hickman]

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Hi, Nick !

Welcome to the USA-Flag-Site Forums !


QUOTE : "I recently directed a music video which was a homage to the awesome TOP GUN movie. We ended up buying a 50ft x 30FT USA flag which looked awe inspiring..... It has only been used once and is now safely folded up in my office. The thing is, my producer wants me to sell it to recoup some of the money, and i'm not sure the best way of doing this. I don't want to offend anyone and it would be nice if it went to a good home."


The simple answer would be to try to sell it on eBay, especially if this were a month to a month-and-a-half ago! (It's all in the "timing"!)


OR.....


If the Flag was a legitimate business "expense", then it could be considered a "tax write-off". But since I'm NOT a "Tax Lawyer" or a "Certified Public Accountant" (CPA) in this country (USA) or any other, I am NOT an "expert" on such matters.

Depending on the circumstances and the "non-profit" corporation involved, donating the Flag to charity might provide the video's production company some kind of "tax benefit".

As far as I know, there just aren't that many places that have a "Heavy-Duty" flagpole that's tall enough to "handle" a 30'x50' American Flag properly. So that kind of limits "where" the Flag could end up.

If you and the Flag are in the U.K., perhaps you can donate it to the CAMBRIDGE AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL. This World War II cemetery is located on 30.5 acres about 3 miles west of the city of Cambridge. The cemetery contains the remains of 3,812 of our military dead; 5,127 names are recorded on the Tablets of the Missing. The flagpole is more than tall enough to carry a 30'x50' American Flag.
http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ca.php

Unfortunately, our World War I cemetery, BROOKWOOD AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, located about 35 miles Southwest of London, has a much shorter flagpole that couldn't possibly accomodate an American flag anywhere near that size.
http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/bk.php

If you need more information or wish to contact the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), their website is located HERE : http://www.abmc.gov/home.php


OR.....

You might consider donating the Flag to the USO. I don't think they have any flagpoles that are tall & strong enough to handle a 30'x50' American Flag, but they could always auction it off to raise funds.
http://www.uso.org/


OR.....

If your "Top Gun" tribute is anywhere near as "awesome" as you think it is, MAYBE you could donate Your American Flag to the United States Air Force Academy ??? www.usafa.af.mil/


BTW : Is your "Top Gun" video posted anywhere that WE can watch it ???


Thank You, Nick, for bringing your BIG Flag-related question to our Forums !!!


Robin "The 'Pot Gnu' Of The Dyslexic Pilots Association" Hickman
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[american_flag_uk]

Wowee thats a BIG FLAG!

I am located in the UK, British citizen too, and I have quiote a flag collection.. My biggest flag is 9x 17 ft.. I once bidded on a 20x30 on ebay but lost at the last minute...

It would all depend on how much you wanted for this flag, whether I would be interested in buying it...

[Robin Hickman]

.

Speaking of 20'x30' American Flags on eBay . . . . . .


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150436860511&ssPageNam e=STRK:MEWAX:IT


What the Seller has to say about the20'x30' American Flag up for bid :

This huge nylon 20' x 30' American Flag has never been used outside. It was used as a backdrop for 4 weeks on the big stage at the Sahara Casino Hotel in Las Vegas for the production of "The World's Greatest Magic Show" in 2004.

This show moved to a smaller theater shortly after this flag was hung and was too big for the new stage. It still has the grommets on its side so that it can be hung from a flag pole. Grommets were also professionally installed along the top edge of the flag by the Sahara stage crew, at this time the flag was also professionally fire proofed to meet all fire code requirements by professional theaters.

The grommets along the top are placed approximately every 3 feet so that it can be tied to and displayed from a fly bar. When hung this way it is truly a spectacular display even for a large Las Vegas show room. If hung from a pole the small grommets would not be noticeable from the ground.

While preparing this flag for Ebay I did notice a couple of places where stained. These spots are pictured below alone with a dollar bill to show there size. These spots are very small in comparison to the 20 x 30 foot size of the flag and are unnoticeable when the full flag is hung.

Also there are a couple places were the red color bleed onto the white. I believe this has been there from the time of manufacturing, and is very hard to notice unless it is pointed out.

Please do not let these minor flaws distract from what is an absolutely beautiful flag or theatrical backdrop which has barely been used.

Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA