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Hand-Crafting Wood-Made Flags To Celebrate First Responders
With the end of the year comes a time to celebrate, and this year, we are celebrating the amazing first responders who did so much to help their communities during the trying times and events of 2020.
Joining us in our celebration are our legacy partners, Pennwood Products, a family-run business founded in 1942, and maker of high-quality hardwood moldings, stair treads and risers, base products and more.
We looked to Pennwood in this effort to honor American heroes given their passion about hardwood, premier products and expert craftsmanship. To that end, LL Flooring commissioned Pennwood to hand-make artfully crafted, wooden American flags to be gifted to our great first responders.
“We always take great care and craft when it comes to making our products, and these American flags continue that legacy,” said Kraig Coxon, Executive Vice President, Pennwood Products. “Our company values the vital work of our first responders and we are excited to partner up with LL Flooring to make these great, wood-made flags.”
Here’s an inside look at the making of the artfully crafted wooden flags:
The American flags were specially crafted by Pennwood and use 50-year-old legacy white pine.
“One thing that’s so great about this white pine is the simple beauty of the grain patterns, the knots, the texture and imperfections. It is a beautiful wood and quality that really works well for the flags,” said Coxon. “What’s more, the fact that this wood is 50 years old speaks to its durability and legacy.”
Once the pinewood has been ripped, Pennwood takes a flame to the wood to bring out the grain patterns. “It’s the sugars in the wood that create that those swirling, wonderful grain patterns that really pop out once you put a flame on them,” said Coxon.
Next, Pennwood hand paints and assembles the pieces and begins the varnishing process.
“This is a key phase of the creation that really shows the hand-crafting nature and care of making the flags. We just love how the colors pop and blend with the pinewood grain.”
From there, the flags are ready to ship and gift to these American heroes.
“We’re very proud of the quality of these flags —they are true reflection of the care and craftmanship we put to all of our products, and we are excited to see these hanging up in the homes of heroes,” said Coxon.
We hope you join us to celebrate and thank America’s amazing first responders as we document the flag donations in December on our social media channels.