"I've never had such a large crowd of volunteers in all of my years on Main Street, and I was overwhelmingly pleased," said Downtown Business Association treasurer Scott Weimer as he viewed the nearly 40 volunteers who showed up early the morning of July 4th to help replace the 20 American flags along Historic Main Street in Garden Grove.
"I've never had such a large crowd of volunteers in all of my years on Main Street, and I was overwhelmingly pleased," said Downtown Business Association treasurer Scott Weimer as he viewed the nearly 40 volunteers who showed up early the morning of July 4th to help replace the 20 American flags along Historic Main Street in Garden Grove.
Garden Grove City Councilman Christopher Phan said Monday, June 30th, he noticed the American flags on Historic Main Street getting old and tattered and so he reached out to community leaders to purchase new flags in time for the 4th of July.
" I purposely asked support from all of the organizations that make up Garden Grove, because we're a diverse and united community," said Phan. "That's the reason it was easy for us to raise the money so quickly; we pooled together $700 to buy new American flags for Main Street on the 4th," he said.
"Our flag means everything to our community and to me. It gave us, as immigrants from Vietnam and other countries, a second chance at life and liberty."
Christopher Phan is the recipient of, "The Walk of Courage" award, honoring the journey that refugees worldwide take from harm to safety, as well as leadership in their communities.
During that award ceremony, Ret. Lt. Cmdr. Chris Phan was recognized for his extraordinary accomplishments as a Vietnamese refugee, member of the U.S. armed forces, successful attorney, elected official, and advocate for refugee protection.
Garden Grove Councilmembers participating in the flag-purchase included: Steve Jones, Kris Beard and Christopher Phan (campaigning for O.C. Supervisor), along with Garden Grove City Council candidates John O'Neill and Phat Bui.
Other participants were the President of Korean American Chamber of Commerce
Patrick Woo, President of ABC Beauty College Tam Nguyen, President of Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce Gia Ly, Garden Grove League of United Latin American Citizens Executive Director Benny Diaz, Garden Grove Community Development Director Susan Jones Emery, Garden Grove Fire Chief David Barlag and JAGC United States Army Officer Greg Dixon.
At 8 a.m., July 4th, the new flags for Main Street were installed on lamp posts along the street to kick off the 4h of July in a renewed patriotic spirit.
Several Patriots, who have supported, and continue to support America in defending her against enemies were asked to join the 4th of July festivities.
The 20 flags were purchased from Taylor Flags, a local company located in Long Beach since 1932; Garden Grove didn't have enough flags to purchase the needed amount before July 4th.
And, the good news is, the American flags were made in America.
Something about the flags:
In prior years, the Elks Club of Garden Grove and the Downtown Business Association members have provided and maintained the flags on Historic Main Street, along with the Strawberry Festival, which also helped to fund the flags and recently helped fund restoration of the lamp posts on the street, according to Weimer.
"The Strawberry Festival provided new benches and trash receptacles on Historic Main Street as well," said Weimer. "The flags only last one year because they are illuminated and therefore on the lamp posts 24-7," Weimer continued.
"Last week, Councilman Christopher Phan saw the need for new flags and asked how he could help; it wasn't long before Christopher called back saying he had secured the $700 necessary to replace the flags," Weimer explained.
