Goodwill Flag Center employee sews together stripes of the flag. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha D. Uriarte
On Flag Day, June 14, Goodwill Industries of South Florida opened its doors to the Miami-Dade County Postal Customer Council (MDCPCC) membership to observe first-hand how flags were made.
Goodwill Flag Center workers, some with significant disabilities, were busily manufacturing American flags --- 500 to be completed by the end of the day. The flags were made with reverence. At no time did the fabric touch the floor during the manufacturing process. From the first stitch on the first star to the last stitch on the last stripe, these were not just any stars and stripes. They were to be used for the funerals of military veterans and active duty personnel, those who have given the last measure of devotion.
In addition to manufacturing flags
for military funeral services, the Goodwill facility in Miami is one of three
in the country that also makes flags for presidential funerals, to drape the
caskets of presidents and be presented to grieving first ladies.
For
more than 15 years, Goodwill has maintained a special partnership with the
Miami Herald newspaper. Goodwill workers use state-of-the-art equipment to
package pre-printed advertisements and other publications for insertion into
the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. In one week, the 160 employees at this
location supply over 1.37 million advertising packages.
The MDCPCC took this
opportunity to thank several veterans in the community and the Spirit of
Goodwill Band --- with singers and musicians characterized by a variety of
physical, developmental, and psychological disabilities --- performed for guests.
Goodwill Flag Center employee completes the finishing
touches by sewing the embroidered stars to the stripes sewn together by a
co-worker. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha D. Uriarte
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