This past week I am sure many people reflected upon the events of 9/11 as did I. September 11, 2001 was the tragic event of my generation much as Pearl Harbor was for my grandparents and the Kennedy assignation was for my parents. This weekend I recounted my whereabouts, I was a stock broker with Edward Jones at the time, working out of my house. Unfortunately the company had several people and many friends in the World Trade Center that day. I remember the shock with the first plane’s impact, the horror of the second plane hitting and the fear as the Pentagon was struck and disbelief as a plane crashed in Pennsylvania. I recall thinking of my son and the world he would grow up in and how it was now different from mine. Then I remember the American flag placed over the rubble by firefighters that once was the Twin Towers and a since of pride and unity replaced fear.
Now you may really be wondering why this post is on the “executive section” of Carrot-Top Industries blog? The answer is simple, I have great pride in the products we offer and the emotions they invoke. I remember interviewing and thinking wow American flags, that is cool – I can have a lot of pride in the product I am marketing! The years have gone by and that emotion has not changed, it is cool to offer American flags to people who have their own story and sentiment as to why the flag is important to them.
I have gained a ton of knowledge about flag etiquette, flag facts and American flag facts. This exposure has only increased my appreciation for the meaning of the American flag, respect for what it represents and again the emotion that it creates. I am very fortunate to work in a place that allows me to hear customers share their stories and experiences with the American flag, which is a constant reminder of what the flag does for people.
Being the son of a retired Army CW3 and being interested in history, 9/11 was not my first exposure to American pride. However as a defining time of my generation it did and does shape my emotions and meaning of the American flag.
Steve A. Cates
Carrot-Top Industries, Inc.
VP of Multi-Channel Marketing
October 7, 2009 at 3:12 pm |
[...] these dealers are opportunist, who have either entered the market or gained market share following September 11, 2001. The spirit, emotion and understanding of the true meaning of the American flag is [...]