Betsy Ross Award

The Betsy Ross Award for Service recognizes an active member of National Independent Flag Dealers Association who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve NIFDA, the flag industry, fellow NIFDA members and/or their community.

A member may be deserving of the award when they overcome obstacles in their business or personal life to become a successful flag dealer, efforts to bring attention to the flag industry, efforts to pass legislation affecting the US Flag or the flag industry, or efforts to gain visibility for themselves or their business as it relates to the flag industry.

Previous Betsy Ross Award Winners

2024 - Julye Spinelli, Saratoga Flag Company

2023 - Todd Ross, Raising Freedom

2022 - David McGehee, Columbia Flag & Sign Company

2021 - Kim Griebling, Custom Flag Company

2019 - Arthur Schaller, Jr., The National Flag Company

2018 - Mike & Vickie Young, Eagle Mountain Flag & Flagpole

2017 - Karen Bush, Flag & Banner Company, Inc.

2016 - James Giraudo, Pacific Coast Flag

2015 - Brenda McIntyre, A Complete Flagsource

2014 - Kerry McCoy, Arkansas Flag and Banner

2012 - Fred Bretzloff, Yankee Doodle Flags, Kites & Fun

2011 - Carl “Gus” Porter III, WGN Flag & Decorating Co.

2010 - Frank Hicks, Eder Flag

2009 - Lori Watson, The Flag Lady’s Flag Store

2008 – Robert Rosenthal, Atlas Flags

2007 - Howard Pinkley, Flag-Sales Repairs

2006 - Jeff Shaaber, Valley Forge Flag Company

2005 - Pete Van de Putte, Dixie Flag Mfg. Company, Inc., founding member

2004 - Fred Hachmeister, The Flag Factory, founding member

2003 - Randy Smith, Advertising Flag Co., founding member

2002 - Terry Stevenson, Executive Director of NIFDA

2002 - Mary Leavitt, Flag Lady’s Store, founding member

2000 - Edna McCall, Flag Store

1999 - Scott Somers, Concord Industries/Flagpole Components

George Washington Award

The George Washington Award is the successor to the Golden Grommet Award, an award originated to recognize those who have performed extraordinary service to NIFDA and the flag industry. 

The George Washington Award is presented every 5 years and recognizes a man or woman who has offered a prolonged period of service to the flag industry. The recipient should be one who has set an example in their business dealings of excellence, integrity and professionalism. The recipient shall have given above and beyond the call of duty in terms of time, advice, and wisdom to others, within and without the industry, who are interested in flags and banners, particularly the US flag as a symbol of patriotism and the heritage of our country. 

This award recognizes and rewards “excellence” in one’s public and private life, one’s professional life, and one’s association with fellow flag professionals. The award itself is intended to be a copy of the Houdin bust of George Washington, the original of which resides at Mount Vernon. 

Previous George Washington Award Winners

2021 - Susan Wells

2015 - Jeff Parness

2011 - Fred Quigley

2010 - Sean Harringtin

2009 - Frank Hicks

2008 - Peter Van de Putte

2007 - Mary Leavitt

2006 - Eugene Eder

2003 - Janice Christiansen

2002 - Matt Conway

2001 - Bob Caggiano

2000 - George Cahill

1999 - Dr. Whitney Smith

1998 - Joe McIntyre; Randy Beard Sr.; Bill Spangler; Jim Timberlake; and Jim Van Gundy.