You take your victories where you can get them. The back story:
Since 2004 or so I have been involved with the conceptual design of a new manufacturing center on our campus. I have helped select the equipment, set some design goals, and assist in any way possible to get this project turned from an idea into a real structure. Don't get me wrong, many other people have been involved over the years, but I've had a vision of what this could be and what it might mean to the University and the community.
For the last couple of months I've been involved with spotting the machinery in the structure and laying out the shop floor. I'll post more about the structure later, along with some pictures. One of the main areas is the High Bay, which is 65' wide and about 150' long, with a 10 ton gantry crane that runs the length of it. There are other labs, offices, etc. in the building.
My department Chair has an American flag on a stand in his office. I asked if it was from the Academy (he is a retired Air Force Colonel) and he said that it wasn't and that it was a birthday gift; the University would not pay for it.
Guys, this struck me as WRONG, that a man who flew over Baghdad in GW1 has to buy his own American flag. And then I realized that the new manufacturing center had no provision for a flag anywhere.
I'm a pretty low key guy in most ways, I just want to do my job and get on with life, but with everything else going on in our nation I decided to do something. I decided that I didn't want a flag for my office, I wanted a flag for the whole building. So I wrote an email to the University President, Dr Linda Bennett. Here is the text:
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Dr Bennett -
As the construction of the Applied Engineering Center winds down and the installation of the equipment begins, I noticed one item that was missing - an American flag.
This building was designed by proud Americans (many of them are our grads), built by proud Americans, and at least in my case it will be staffed by a proud American. The equipment in the building is primarily American made (whenever it was available) and while all are welcome the majority of students that will use the building are American.
I would like to see the largest American flag available hanging inside the building, where it will be protected from the elements and will serve to remind all who enter who and what we are. Manufacturing is what America does best, and this building should reflect that.
I understand that there are many needs on this campus for money, and that hard decisions must be made in allocating the funds available. I respectfully request that you give serious consideration to this idea, and if the funding is not available please indicate that.
Thanks you for your time and attention to this request, it is appreciated.
Cordially,
Keith G Benedict
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Bless her heart! Within a few minutes I got a polite and favorable response and within a few hours (and it was a Friday afternoon) her request to other University officials to make it happen had worked through four levels of administration and I got an email from the Construction coordinator that a 12' x 18' flag would be ordered and be available in time for the Open House/ building dedication.
I'm working with my Dept Chair on the dedication ceremony - I'd like to raise the flag at one end of the high bay with the crane and then fly it slowly to the other end while the National anthem is played. The flag will then be permanently displayed on the wall at one end. We'll see what happens.
Sometimes you just gotta ask.
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