Texas town flies 4,000 sq ft American flag: 'We want to show how patriotic we are'

Even as foreign nationals cross the southern border of Texas at an alarming rate these days, one Texas town leaves no doubt about where its loyalties lie. Rockwall, Texas, located just outside Dallas, has recently begun to fly a 50-foot by 80-foot American flag nearly 200 feet in the air so that people from far and wide can witness the patriotic fervor of nearby residents.

According to Rockwall Mayor Kevin Fowler, the flag and flagpole were the brainchild of city councilman Bennie Daniels, and the idea quickly took root.

"It started in 2016," Fowler told Fox News. "We had a council member, Bennie Daniels, who had this dream of having a giant 50 x 80-foot American flag put up in one of the highest points of our city."

The process of building and erecting the 190-foot flagpole took a couple of weeks, and during that time, many locals weren't sure what to expect.

"They bring out this giant flagpole," the mayor continued. "They had to lay it down on the ground, and citizens see it. They don’t really know what it is, so there was a lot of speculation in the town."

Fowler said that some of the town's 45,000 residents thought it might be a new cell phone tower or a wind turbine. Many were glad to see that it was designed to be, in the mayor's words, a "majestic, glorious flagpole" that could hoist an American flag big enough to be seen for miles.

According to the local paper the Blue Ribbon News, organizers insisted on following proper flag etiquette. For that reason, eight people held the 120-lb. flag off the ground while others affixed it to the pole. Then this past Wednesday, the giant American flag in the City of Rockwall began flying proudly in the Texas sun.

For a photo which gives helpful perspective about the size of the flagpole, visit this other article from Blue Ribbon News.

"Rockwall doesn’t question patriotism, but we certainly display it," Fowler added. "We want to show how patriotic we are."

Though this American flag is the largest and highest of its kind in the city, this is not Rockwall's first time making national news for its large flag display. Two years ago, a Rockwall business began flying the largest Thin Blue Line flag in the state.

"I don't do anything, unless I can do it big!" said John Hagaman, owner of Ekin Nutrition in Rockwall, which flew the giant flag.

"Countless people in uniform put their lives on the line for us every day, and any time I can say thank you and show some support, I will."