Georgia's ever-changing flag a boon for banner makers

ATLANTA -- It's a good time to be a flag maker in Georgia.

Just when many residents got in the habit of displaying the current state flag -- approved in 2001 -- lawmakers have rolled out three possible replacements.

The legislature is poised to pick a new flag in the next couple of weeks, but that might fly less than a year, when the state holds a referendum. If voters reject the new flag, they'll have another election to pick from two possible replacements -- both of which are different from the current flag.

No other state has had a major flag change since South Dakota in 1963, and now Georgia may change flags three times in four years. The chaos is a dream come true for flag makers, who are already churning out the yet-to-be-approved new flag.

"There still will be people who will be tentative about buying a quantity of them because they don't know if this will be the ultimate flag," said Faryl Rosenthal, co-owner of Atlas Flags in Tucker. "But we're not complaining at all. It will be business for us."

Costly changeovers

Every time the flag changes, it costs the state $280,000 to buy one for every school, courthouse and government building. And that doesn't count private flag sales and displays in other states that want the official state flag.

"When all of the state agencies have to change their flags, of course it's going to be a boon to business," Rosenthal said.

Georgia's revolving flag saga began in 2001 when black lawmakers led a movement to change the 1956-issue state flag that was dominated by a large Confederate emblem. Then-Gov. Roy Barnes ramrodded a new flag through the legislature in less than a week with no public hearings, creating a backlash that figured in his defeat to Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue.

The latest proposed flag would feature the state seal on a blue field in the top left corner, with three red-and-white stripes and the words "In God We Trust" to the right. It was designed by a Republican and echoes an old Confederate banner, but it does not include the more-familiar rebel "X."

Georgia officials have contracted with Atlas Flags to make several prototypes of the new flag to be ready by Monday to hang at the Capitol and in the governor's office.

Ruffin Flag Co. in Crawfordville is also getting calls about the newly proposed flag.

"Now we're getting calls from state patrol and other citizens who want the new flag being proposed," said owner Soren Dresch. "I think there will be demand for this flag and that's why we're already making it. It is an opportunity if this flag is embraced."

The new flag passed its toughest test Tuesday when the House approved it after six hours of spirited debate. Black lawmakers tried to block the bill because it allows a possible statewide referendum on an old Georgia flag dominated by the Confederate symbol.

The flag bill now heads to the Senate, where leaders from both parties say it will pass over the objections of black senators, who make up about a fifth of the chamber.

Rosenthal said that before the new flag design was rolled out, business was already good because of the war in Iraq. More patriotic Americans are buying U.S. flags, though the rush isn't nearly as significant as after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The old Georgia flag, the one dominated by the Confederate battle emblem, also is still a popular seller.

"We've sold probably more of them to the general public even after the new flag came out than we did to corporations," she said. "People who are buying a Georgia flag, more of them buy the old state of Georgia flag."

The only hitch for flag makers has been what to do with inventories of old state flags. Some of the old flags continue to sell, while others don't.

"For us, we have customers who feel very strongly in the old flag, and the other problem is we are a nationwide company based in a state that can't make up its mind about the flag," Dresch said. "It's a little bit of a hassle when they keep changing the flag every two years."

------

On the Net

www.atlasflags.com

www.ruffinflag.com