We’ve all made impulse buys before (Are you still using that treadmill as an expensive clothing rack, by the way?), but this has got to be one of the most patriotic.
In 2001, concerned by the way veterans’ issues “weren’t being addressed by our government,” Army vet Ted Dorfman bought what was at the time the world’s largest flag on eBay for a scant $12,300. It’s a behemoth worthy of Hamilton status: At 420 by 210 feet, the flag weighs seven tons and requires its own hauling trailer. The stars alone are 13 feet tall.
At first, Dorfman planned to tour the flag around the country to draw positive attention for veterans, but less than a month after it was delivered to his doorstep, 9/11 happened, and it took on a whole new meaning. Dorfman arranged to have the flag displayed at a memorial service for the victims of the United Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, PA. It has since been used at numerous nationwide events and dedications over the years. This September, it was unfurled in front of the jaw-dropping public for inspection at Advanced Carbide Grinding in Derry, PA, where it will be stored. Dorfman plans to continue to display the flag at prominent patriotic celebrations, including the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
Maybe Hamilton can build its new hauling trailer?