US Flag Makers

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Steve Ehrlich is a historian. I walked into his shop, U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta, for a story on patriotic symbols and the walls were lined with antique radios and black and white pictures of Ohio. Steve was full of energy as he bounded out of his office, which again is lined floor to ceiling with old photographs. Inside, stacks of Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly Newspaper were in semi neat piles as he started explaining how the newspaper used their new color cover technique to garner support for the United States’ involvement in World War I. Outside his office, employees were busy stapling American flags to wooden poles, for who knows patriotic symbols better than a historian who also happens to own a flag making business.

Copies of Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper sit in Steve Ehrlich's office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Copies of Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly Newspaper sit in Steve Ehrlich’s office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Steve Ehrlich holds up copies of Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper in his office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Steve Ehrlich holds up copies of Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly Newspaper in his office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Copies of Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper sit in Steve Ehrlich's office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Copies of Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly Newspaper sit in Steve Ehrlich’s office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

American flags are moved into piles by a machine after they are cut to the correct size at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

American flags are moved into piles by a machine after they are cut to the correct size at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Steve Ehrlich stands surrounded by American flag fabric at his business, U.S. Flag Makers, in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Steve Ehrlich stands surrounded by American flag fabric at his business, U.S. Flag Makers, in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Lorena Hernandez staples an American flag onto a stake at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Lorena Hernandez staples an American flag onto a stake at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Rosendo Flores places an American flag into a pile at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Rosendo Flores places an American flag into a pile at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Lorena Hernandez staples an American flag onto a stake at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Lorena Hernandez staples an American flag onto a stake at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Rosendo Flores places an American flag into a pile at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Rosendo Flores places an American flag into a pile at U.S. Flag Makers in Marietta on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Copies of Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper sit in Steve Ehrlich's office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Copies of Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly Newspaper sit in Steve Ehrlich’s office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Steve Ehrlich holds up copies of Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper in his office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Steve Ehrlich holds up copies of Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly Newspaper in his office in Marietta as he explains how the covers were created from 1917-1918 to garner support for World War I on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.