Thank You, Veteran, for Your Service: How We Show Our Thanks

For decades, we have been intertwined with our local veteran organizations. And selfishly, it makes us feel good about the work we do, spreading patriotism and the love we have for our country.

But, A few years ago we had an itch to give back more directly to local veterans on an individual level.

So we set up our first surprise flagpole giveaway. We took a 20 foot aluminum flagpole, got in touch with the family members of a truly special veteran, Tom Regan, and pulled it off. You can read the full breakdown about Tom here and watch the videos on that page as well.

We loved doing it so much that we decided to do it again.

And that's when the tradition was born. No matter how business was, we were going to create a special moment for somebody who gave up so much for our country.

Below is the growing collection of recipients and some of their stories.

2024 Surprise - Scott Gallerie

This year, we picked another amazing veteran to thank. We hope our tradition helps people learn how to thank a veteran and reminds everyone of the importance of saying "thank you" to those who keep us safe.

You can read more about how we give back to local, national and global causes and follow along as we build a more patriotic society, one flag at a time!

Honoring Scott: A True Patriot and Dedicated Veteran

Scott’s journey of service began early when, as a high school student, he joined the Army National Guard. At just 18, he became the youngest soldier in his unit to deploy, serving in Kuwait and Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Attached to the 82nd Airborne during his deployment with the 1156 Engineer Company, Scott supported critical missions in the Middle East. For his courage and contributions, he earned numerous awards and medals, including the Army Commendation Medal with “C” Device, the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among others.

Despite his extraordinary service, Scott remains humble about his time overseas, rarely speaking of the sacrifices he made. Yet his actions tell a story of a man who continues to put others first. Whether helping friends and family without hesitation, juggling full-time school and work, or rebuilding his father’s homestead into a beautiful home, Scott embodies the values of resilience, hard work, and patriotism. Today, he and his girlfriend share that restored home with their dog, Daisy. Scott has been wishing for a flagpole for a few years now so he can fly a flag just as his grandfather did in this same house.

It is an honor to recognize Scott with our 2024 Veteran Flagpole Surprise. His unwavering patriotism, dedication to service, and commitment to family and friends exemplify the best of what it means to be an American veteran. We are thrilled to know that he will finally have the flagpole and Steadfast American flag that he deserves.

Thank you, Scott, for your service and your example. You inspire us all.

P.S. Check out the video to the right to learn what this all meant to him!

2025 Surprise - Joe Simonik

In 2025, We asked for help locating another deserving veteran and the recommendations were amazing. It became difficult to figure out who was most deserving when all of the recommendations were phenomenal.

So we did what any rational person would do. We closed our eyes and pointed to the computer screen.

And voila, Joe Simonik was selected.

Joe is an Army Veteran and retired US postal employee. His whole life has been about serving others. When he got out of the army (after 28 years), he joined several different veteran organizations such as the local Veterans Affairs and is currently the Commander of the Disabled American Veterans in Troy NY.

His friends (who came for the surprise) know him as a caring person, always going above and beyond to ensure that local disabled veterans and their families are taken care of.

It was an honor to surprise him as our 2025 flagpole recipient. Check out the videos to learn more!

Interested in getting the same flag and flagpole our recipients got? Check out the Easy Order 20 foot flagpole!