Our first story out of Long Island is all about a World War Two veteran
who's turned his love for the American flag into a mission of honor
so much so that he's known by his community as the flag man.
Let's take a look at how this veteran makes every day.
A banner day for people on the island and beyond.
If
you're
not willing to fight for your country,
why the hell should you be allowed to live there?
A
love of country inspired Gerald Goldman to answer the call to duty during World War I
I
as a 20 year old marine corporal Goldman served as a machine gunner
and radio man on a B 25 bomber in the South Pacific.
Nearly eight decades. After leaving the battlefield, the 99 year old retired
is still serving his country just in a different way.
I wanted to make a flag of my own doing his machine
guns now replaced with a brush and paint shades of red,
white and blue to create a unique rendition of
old glory out of wooden slats from old fences.
It represents the land of the free and the home of the brave. He started 15 years
fashioning flags, Betsy Ross style with 13 stars.
And that was my idea, you know, to remind people that the original, you know,
states were 13 Goldman's mission to spread patriotism and
honor the fallen one handmade banner at a time.
I got the bright idea that, you know,
I'm gonna try to give these to everybody on the block,
but I'm gonna tell him
I don't want you to keep it in the house. You gotta keep it outside where it can be seen.
Within weeks. Goldman's passion project turned
Abras Street into the most star spangled block in this Bay Shore neighborhood.
Nearly every one of the 44 homes here bears Goldman
flags. I'm proud of it. Neighbor Joe
Laho happily took one because Jerry made it. It's quite a thing.
It's homemade American made, it wasn't made in the factory.
I made something, it means something to Neighbor Nancy Barrett too.
It's very special to me.
I love my flag
because he made it. I'm proud of my dad. Goldman's son.
Arthur isn't surprised at how his father's symbols of unity
and freedom have captured the hearts of so many.
His messages. Don't, don't take it for granted,
don't forget about it. It's there
and that you can't let that idea slip away.
It's a message sealed with a sign postcard depicting Goldman's war
service on the back of each one of his creations.
650 made. So far makes
me very proud, a proud veteran's unflagging patriotism,
unfurling inspiration for us all
a country to be proud of a hobby, to be proud of and an impact, to be proud of.
Just wonderful.