THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 14, 1996 TAG: 9606130159
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 109 lines
IT'S THE BUSIEST time of year for Paula W. Jones, as businesses, civic groups and citizens prepare for the patriotic summer holidays, starting today with Flag Day.
Jones, 39, is a flag maker and the owner of Norfolk Flag & Emblem Inc. on Bainbridge Boulevard in South Norfolk.
For the past six years, her small business has supplied most of the U.S. flags that wave in front of businesses and government offices across Hampton Roads, including the ones that stream from poles at City Hall and Chesapeake's Virginia Power office.
Her flags have seen action in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. They whipped through the air recently at Norfolk's Harborfest, and they float from the masts of sailboats and yachts on the Chesapeake Bay.
Jones and her two employees, Sarah L. Nelson and Sandra Ballard, specialize in custom, handmade flags with seasonal themes, family crests or business and school logos.
For many years, Jones made all her American flags by hand. But the number of hours involved in creating an official U.S. flag made it too costly for most customers, especially because Jones recommends that a flag flown outside be replaced every three months. Now she orders them from a New Jersey distributor.
The South Norfolk flag company does make flag repairs. A torn or tattered hem can be trimmed and re-stitched, Jones said. But badly torn, ripped or faded flags should be retired, she said.
The shop sells flags that range from small 4-by-6-inch cotton designs for 44 cents to one that measures 30-by-60-feet and sells for $1,998.
She carries official U.S. military, holiday and parade flags that vary in cost and size. Most homeowners choose a 3-by-5-foot American flag with embroidered stars for $32.90.
She recommends a nylon flag for outdoor use, because it dries faster and the lighter-weight material makes it fly better.
``This is the time of year that most people replace weathered flags with a crisp, new one to honor Flag Day and usher in the Fourth of July holidays,'' Jones said.
``There is something about the Stars and Stripes that brings out patriotic feelings and a sense of pride in America, no matter what is going on in this country.''
Although Jones has been a shop owner for only six years, she grew up in the flag business and has nearly 25 years experience.
For almost 30 years, her mother, Juanita W. Cherry and her mother's partner, Lucille Waters, owned and operated The National Flag Company in Norfolk. Jones learned the craft of designing patterns, cutting, stitching and hemming at her mother's elbow.
The business stayed in the family when Jones and Phyllis Fisher, Waters' daughter, later worked together. Eventually, Jones bought Fisher's share of the business.
In 1984, Jones and her mother made what she said was the largest flag ever to have been displayed in Hampton Roads. It took about five days, as mother and daughter sewed a 30-by-46-foot U.S. flag. Each star and stripe was individually cut, pinned and stitched. When finished, the flag draped the front of the Smith & Welton Store in downtown Norfolk.
Jones refuses what she considers inappropriate flag requests.
She had a customer, for example, who wanted an American flag made to his specifications. When Jones found out he wanted to use the flag as a bedspread, she declined the order.
``Everything is not always about money,'' she said.
There have been special requests for lettering, club logos and personal designs to be put onto the American flag. Jones also refuses to take any of those orders.
``The flag represents our country. It stands for all that has happened in our history, and it represents all that we are as Americans,'' Jones said. ``I believe that the flag demands a certain reverence.''
Besides, Jones said, she was from a patriotic all-America family. Her mother's citizens band radio nickname was ``Betsy Ross.''
In 1990, during Operation Desert Storm, Jones said, there was a huge surge of patriotism, and she could not keep flags stocked to keep up with the demand.
In her own way, Jones also contributed to the effort.
A military colonel called Jones' shop from Saudi Arabia during the conflict, wanting flags for the troops. Col. Ben Knisely told Jones the flags were coveted and were great for morale. He had tried to contact other flag distributors; Jones was the only one who helped.
Jones referred the large order to her supplier, but she wanted to do something herself.
She sent 144 silk, hand-held flags to the colonel. When she mailed the package, a local postal worker suggested for security reasons they not label the box ``U.S. flags.'' The flags made the trip to the war zone marked ``cloth.''
Jones still has Knisely's thank-you note and a Saudi dollar he sent as a memento; she's never met him, and she doesn't even know what branch of the military he served.
Later, she donated a gross of flags to the Gettysburg when it was on duty in the Persian Gulf.
Jones also made a flag for the Alabama, a replica of the 48-star flag that first flew over its decks in 1912.
``Because we are such a large military population, we tend to be a city of flags,'' said Jones. ``But I never get tired of seeing our American flag.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover, Color photo]
FLAG DAY
The smallest American flag available at Norfolk Flag & Emblem Inc.
is 4 inches by 6 inches.
Staff photos, including the cover, by STEVE EARLEY
Flag maker Paula W. Jones has owned and operated Norfolk Flag &
Emblem Inc. for six years. by CNB