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The TALLEST FLAG around...
Jay Odom, owner of Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach, erected the flag to honor the heroes of September 11, 2001.
 | | The American Flag at Uptown Station stands over 170 feet. A special Fourth of July Flag Ceremony is scheduled for July 3. Karen Murphy Splash! Magazine |
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Have you ever seen the American flag waving at over 170 feet in the air? Some of you may have, but it probably wasn't attached to a land-based flagpole.
Well, Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach has just such a flagpole, and on July 3 will host a special Fourth of July Flag Ceremony.
But why does their flag fly so high? On Sept. 12, 2001, Jay Odom, owner, was at Uptown Station reviewing the renovations of the shopping center. He told his staff that he felt he should do something to honor the Military and first responders to the terrorist attacks of the previous day.
He resolved to erect a flag pole to fly the Stars and Stripes and dedicate it to all members of the Military, Police, Fire Departments, EMS and other first responders who were involved with our nation's response to 9/11.
There were many hurdles to erecting a flagpole in this position, not least the need to persuade the City Council to review the building code to allow the erection of a pole of 175 feet. Eventually, Odom overcame all the obstacles and the flagpole was erected on Sept. 10, 2007.
Uptown Station held a moving dedication ceremony on Nov. 10, 2007, which was attended by civic dignitaries and members of the public. On that date, a massive 60' x 80' Stars and Stripes was flown from the pole for the first time.
Normally, they fly a 40' x 60' flag from the Uptown Station Flag Pole ( the tallest in Florida) but on special occasions they fly the 60' x 80' flag. On these days, the actual flag-raising ceremony is performed by the Honor Guards of the Fort Walton Beach Police Department and Fort Walton Beach Fire Department.
Such will be the case on July 3 when Uptown Station hosts its Fourth of July Flag Ceremony, which is open to the public.
Uptown Station is located at 99 Eglin Pkwy NE, Fort Walton Beach. For more information about the flag ceremony, call 850-243-0401 or visit the web at www.uptownstation.com.
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