Where did American flags on the Green Bridge come from? Here’s what we know
Manatee County commuters traveling across the Green Bridge may have noticed American flags attached to the bridge’s lamp posts.
The decision to place those flags — and an “America 250” flag to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday — was made in partnership between the cities of Bradenton and Palmetto.
But the idea came from USA Fence, a family-owned company that has been a staple of Manatee County since 1971.
“I contacted both mayors and they both immediately agreed,” said Shannon Glasgow, president of USA Fence.
In February, Glasgow noticed a single American flag waving on the bridge after the Bradenton Area River Regatta concluded.
Inspired by his father, H.L. “Butch” Glasgow, who died that same month and was a U.S. Army veteran and founder of USA Fence, Shannon purchased American flags for around $1,700 to place on 22 poles lining the Green Bridge.
“It was a testament to him and … it makes you feel good,” Glasgow said. “I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat or Independent or whatever you are, but personally, it makes me feel good seeing those flags up.”
Installing the flags
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Palmetto Mayor Dan West said they had to get permission from the Florida Department of Transportation to alter the light poles with flags.
They supplied the American 250 flag that sits at the apex of the bridge, while Glasgow bought the other flags.
“It makes you feel good driving over the bridge,” Brown said.
Added Glasgow: “The two reasons I mainly did it is my dad would have loved it. And it’s 250 years. It’s time to celebrate America with all its flaws and all the things it does right.”
The flags are planned to stay flying through Independence Day.
“That symbol of that flag binds us all together,” West said. “I hope that everybody enjoys seeing them as they go across the bridge into Bradenton and we’re going to leave them up through the Fourth of July.”
Community reacts to Green Bridge flags
Glasgow said he’s received lots of positive feedback from a social media post about the project.
“(My dad) loved America,” Glasgow said. “He joined the Army when he was 15 years old. He lied about his age … he changed his name from Harris Lloyd Glasgow, he changed it to Lloyd Harris Glasgow and got in the Army. I’ve had two girls and I couldn’t imagine them going in the Army at 15 years old. I’ve got a bunch of friends that have sons and I can’t imagine any of them going in the Army at 15 years old.”
The 22 flags also symbolize the ongoing crisis of veteran suicides, according to Glasgow. In 2012, a Department of Veterans Affairs report noted that an average of 22 veterans per day died by suicide. That number has decreased to 16.8 per day as of 2020, according to the VA’s 2022 report.
“People keep telling me that they drive back and forth over the bridge just to look at it, because it just makes their heart swell with pride,” West said.
