The National Flag Company is a fixture in Cincinnati. The Schallers started making flags there in 1903.
CINCINNATI—Written in a child’s hand, the words were shaky but legible: “Art 2 Work on the flag co— do you think that it will hapin Dad?”
Cindy Schaller beamed as she explained the message from her grandson, Arthur Schaller IV. The 7-year-old dreams of joining his father at the National Flag Company, where Schallers have been producing flags since 1903.
But Cindy wasn’t getting ahead of herself.
“That’s still a long way away,” she told The Epoch Times. “Would it be awesome? Sure.”
The Cincinnati firm specializes in custom, carefully stitched flags with American-sourced materials. They’re the people bigger flag makers call when a client needs something exceptional.
On June 6, the company’s president and Cindy’s son, Artie Schaller III, showed The Epoch Times around the production floor—a colorful galaxy of fabric and half-finished banners. Alongside the red, white, and blue, there were flags for a high school, the State of Colorado, and even the country of Sri Lanka.
Artie III said it’s hard to find workers with the skills to make bespoke flags. But for those who can, variety is the spice of work life.
“Something’s always changing,” he said.
Flag Season
It was a Friday afternoon—flex time—so only a few people sat at sewing machines. The day before, Artie III said, every station was occupied.
June is the heart of “flag season.” After Memorial Day on May 26 comes Flag Day on June 14. Finally, there’s July 4, when Americans celebrate their independence.
Artie III expects demand will be particularly high this time next year, the 250th anniversary of 1776.
“We already have been talking with our suppliers,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of red, white, and blue everywhere.”
Artie III has taken over management of the company from his father, Art II, over the past three years.
Cindy said her son’s commitment to the family legacy didn’t come as a surprise.
“It was fairly clear from the beginning that he loved this company, and this is what he wanted to do and where he wanted to be,” she said.
