By Chris Yow
Editor
TRUSSVILLE — Complete Cleaners erected a new flagpole at their Tutwiler location on U.S. 11 over the weekend. The business raised the flag Monday, Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day.
“We wanted to have it up before Veteran’s Day,” Alex Yearout said. “But we had to find the right spot with the right lighting.”
Yearout said putting up a real flag pole was something he has wanted to do for a long time. Doing so is something he said helps him feel more patriotic.
“I love living in America. I love owning a business in America, and employing other Americans,” Yearout said. “One of the great traditions and freedoms we have is the freedom to fly a flag.”
Raising the flag today was the grandsons of founder John Patterson: Noah, Cade and Pate Williams.
“Allowing those kids to raise the flag was a great experience,” Yearout said. “They’re at an age where they can be molded, and we want them to be molded to be patriotic.”
Atop the pole is a natural bald eagle, something Yearout said is discouraged for outside flags because the flag can get hung up at the top, but the ornament was too impressive to pass up he said. Combating that problem, however, is simple.
“I’ll just cross my fingers every day that it doesn’t get hung up,” he said. “The bald eagle represents God’s character, and the flag represents our freedom. To have those things in our front yard, I think it represents a lot.”