By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

CALERA— Camping World in Calera flew a 40-foot by 80-foot American flag, the largest one in the state of Alabama, on a 130-foot pole to commemorate Sept. 11, 2001. A crowd of about 100 people helped raise the flag at 4 p.m. Sept. 11.

“With all this controversy going on with one flag or another and a day like today Sept. 11, we feel that it’s important for organizations to get together and pay tribute to a flag we believe truly matters, that’s Old Glory,” said Sgt. David Lee with the United States Army.

Lee helped coordinate the event with Camping World. More than 100 locations of Camping World raise flags on Sept. 11, and the Calera location reached out to the nearby recruiters where Lee works.

“It was just an opportunity for all these organizations to come together and pay their respects,” Lee said. “It seemed like a very good event.”

Members of the Matthew Blount Post 555, Pelham Mayor Gary Waters, Calera Mayor Jon Graham, active duty military, veterans and more kept the enormous flag from touching the ground as it was attached to the pole.

It took about 10 minutes to hoist the flag safely above the ground, and the crowd broke out into applause once the wind caught the red and white stripes. Camping World hosted a meet and greet celebration once the flag ceremony was complete, providing beverages and cake.

“Us guys in uniform, we all have friends and buddies who stood by our side and defended that flag. We’ve got buddies who died for that flag,” Lee said. “It means a great deal when an organization like this wants to truly represent their country and truly say thank you to our troops by raising the biggest flag legally allowed to be flown. It’s one of those things that makes us feel welcome at home.”