Painting Flags On Cars: Patriotism and Community

In September of 2001, everyone was more patriotic than usual, even during play.

By September 13th, Springfield, Missouri was completely sold out of American made American Flags and the flag companies outright refused to buy fromoverseas to meet the demand.

I, like so many other people, was desperate to help in any way I could, so I wandered out to a parking lot and set up my face painting table and a sign without asking permission from the property owner. I figured folks would want a flag no matter how they had to get it, even if it meant painting on their vehicle's windows, and I was right.

The first car I painted was my own. I backed it into a parking space facing the street near my table to better get attention of passersby.

For nearly three weeks the city remained sold out of flags, and armed with only my paintbrush, I provided my city with what they so deeply desired.

Every day from 10am until after dark, I and sometimes a volunteer or two from my group of friends would sit out in the sun, painting free flags on cars. We were on the news with nearly every local station, as well as the paper.

Like so many others during that time, I was only doing what I could to help out our grieving country. Doing the best I could to support my neighbors when we needed each other most.

From cartoon characters to abstract designs, nearly every style and taste was represented during my stint painting flags (and nearly everything else) on cars.

It was the only thing I could do, and I felt great that I could give what I could  in those sad and desperate times.

This is me, painting the inside window of a car.

As time went by, the requests became more and more challenging.

People insisted on giving me donations "to cover the cost of the paints" they said, but I knew it was so they too would feel like they were giving something back, somehow helping in a small way to support our country by supporting what I was doing. I couldn't deny them that. 

Painting flags on cars for free is what I called it when folks asked me what I was doing, and everyone had something different they wanted to express on their vehicle. From anger and hatred towards the perpetrators, to support and love for each other and our country, they came in droves, and I did not stop painting until they stopped coming each night.

 Sometimes I would not even drink or eat while I was out there. There was no time. I had much more important things to do. Maybe I should have called it painting flags for freedom.

More and more cars came in with requests for art that said what they most deeply desired to say about the attack. Finally, after over two weeks in the sun, the flow of cars trickled to nearly nothing, and it was time to pack up and go home for one final time.

I was sad that I couldn't have painted more, that more people didn't come for flags, but I was also (somewhat guiltily) relieved that I could finally go home and get some much needed rest.

 All through the time I was painting flags on cars for free, I was happy to be giving, happy to help, and happy to see the smiling faces of those who would not have otherwise been able to show their patriotism. But I have to say, at the end of it all, all I wanted, and all I will ever want, is an end to all the violence. 

Peace!