Business pledges allegiance to flags

By Shari Goldstein Stern

A show of patriotism comes in varying degrees, from the family who flies the American flag at their home on Federal holidays to those residents who never do. Then there’s the hard-core patriot who proudly flies the flag year-round. Jack Calvin Lewis, a U.S. Air Force veteran raises two flags in his front and back yards every day of the year.

Recently Lewis drove to the will-call window at Betsy Ross Flag Girl on Garland Road to pick up fresh flags for the Lochwood July 4 parade. He and the store’s owner, Barry Casey had a chat. Casey said, “When I acknowledged his ‘US Army Air Corps’ hat, he lit up and quipped, ‘Mr. Roosevelt invited me on a trip overseas.’”

According to Casey: “Mr. Lewis acknowledged that he was an old man of 28 years when he was drafted with all these ‘young whipper-snappers’ that were 17-18 years at the time. Now, even with the new math, that made the man close to 100 years old. Mr. Lewis said, ‘Don’t get in a hurry, I won’t turn 100 until October 2!’” The almost centurion told Casey that the running joke with his neighbors is whether or not this will be his last parade.”

After his recruitment to service in 1942, Lewis was assigned to fly a Thunderbolt P47 fighter plane in support of ground forces. He operated in England, France and Germany.

Following the war, he went to work as an installer for Southwestern Bell until he retired in 1983. Lewis said, “Nobody’s blessed more than I am. It’s a really good life,” Lewis said. “I love my country and everything in it. I feel very patriotic. I love America and I’m not afraid to show it.”

“After my wife died, I started collecting eagles. I went crazy and today I have in the couple of thousands of eagles throughout the house,” said the avid collector.

Betsy Ross Flag Girl, founded in 1969 by Jack Casey Jr., Barry Casey’s dad, is headquartered in White Rock on Garland Road. According to Casey, “We are the nation’s leader in commercial flags and flagpoles, installation and service for all 50 states, while we serve hundreds of militaries, federal, state and local governments with flag and flagpole products and services.”

Casey added: “A flag is a symbol that represents a cause, an idea, or a purpose. Every country in the world and every state in our nation has a flag. It is a symbol that can stir people to joy, sadness, courage and sacrifice.”

Casey’s dad was a specialty advertising sales representative before opening the business. One line he sold was flags. It was a rainy, nasty, day when Jack Casey Jr. was making sales calls and pondered, “Who’s happy right now?” He quickly answered himself: “The fella’ that’s selling that flag is.” He saw a big market for flags in Dallas. Turns out it was an especially good idea, as evidenced now, 50 years later. Another October birthday, the elder Casey, who will be 90 still works in the business a couple of hours every day.

Betsy Ross’ business is about 95 percent in national sales. Although it’s not the only flag provider to the City of Dallas, it has been one since day one, and continues to have flags all over the city at all times.

The State Fair of Texas uses Betsy Ross as one of its sources. The company also sells flags to DallasISD, all municipalities outside of Dallas at one time or another, area sports leagues and teams, the NFL, and corporate logo flags. When you see a row of flags flanking a stadium for a high school football game, for example, you might see 150 Bobcat flags from Betsy Ross.

Betsy’s flags are manufactured from recycled materials — soft drink and water bottles. The fabric manufacturer creates a twine from the bottles which is woven into the strong fabric that becomes flags. Betsy Ross also offers flag repairs to get more life out of each.

A few other Betsy Ross Flag Girl regular customers are St. Marks School, Highland Park Village, Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) and Hotel Crescent Court. Some installations in East Dallas and White Rock are Dallas Athletic Club (DAC), Bryan Adams High School ROTC, Buckner Children’s Home, St. Pius School and Casa Linda.

“If it goes on a flagpole we’ll sell it,” Casey quipped. Some of his staff have been with the business for a long time. Office Manager Stacie has worked there more than 20 years, and Tonnia has been with the company 13 years.

Before taking over his dad’s business about nine years ago, Casey was an attorney with a small private practice in the telecom industry for 16 years.

Casey’s wife, Margaret Casey, is a financial consultant. Their son Barry is an All-America baseball player and physics major at UT Dallas, and son Sam attends the Harold Ramus Film School at the Second City in Chicago.

Barry Casey sends a shout-out to Victor C. Lewis (pictured with him above), and adds: “You are an inspiration to all of us! The world is a better place because of you and those like you. We are most fortunate to call you our customer. Your light continues to shine brightly! You define what is known as ‘The Greatest Generation!’”