Businesses Honor Veterans and America

Stories abound these days of people, schools and communities that wish to do away with the Pledge of Allegiance and flying Old Glory.  I regularly document such occurences, hoping to raise awareness about the dangers of doing away with patriotic fervor.

But, in honor of Veteran’s Day, I’d like to turn the corner and highlight a few locations in America that are red, white and blue to the core. 

Just this week, I read about the Bayshore Patriots, a group in Tampa Bay, FL who regularly gather at Patriot’s Corner every Friday during evening rush hour to fly the American flag.  For the last ten years, as a way to express their patriotism after 9/11, the Bayshore Patriots have shown up at the same location from 4:30 – 6:00, rain or shine, to wave Old Glory.  Last year, they added a monument of sorts – a steel beam from the World Trade Center – a symbol of a nation still standing after being attacked.   The group plan to continue their patriotic flag waving until every troop returns home from war.

Dave’s All American Pizza in Danville, IN is another example of a business with a patriotic flare. An enormous American flag greets guests and a 20 foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty stands watch in the main dining room. The parking lot has special spaces reserved for veterans and nearly every branch of the military is represented by manequins wearing the uniform. Veteran’s Day eats are pretty good, too. This Veteran’s Day, Dave is serving up free prime rib for the lucky vets who come to see this all American eatery.

Finally, there is Chick and Ruth’s Deli in Annapolis, MD.  Proprietor Ted Levitt, a true red, white and blue patriot, began the tradition of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every day in his deli in 1989. That’s right. Every day of the week, no matter how busy, the entire restaurant stops, stands up, faces the flag over the register, places their hands over their hearts and recites the Pledge of Allegiance. That’s me with Ted when he graciously allowed me to lead the Pledge of Allegiance after I published my children’s book, America’s Story: A Pictorial History of the Pledge of Allegiance.  My new book for adult readers, Saving One Nation Under God, was released this week and is available on Amazon.

If you ever visit these locations, please be sure to stop in.

 

Tags: amazon, America, annapolis, bayshore, chick and ruth's deli, danville, dave's all american pizza, patriotism, Pledge of Allegiance, tampa bay, Veteran's Day, veterans