Military Vet Launches Flag Company

In many ways, Kyle Daniels is your typical Midwestern American. He grew up in a patriotic household where many of his family members joined the military, and his father was particularly meticulous about flag etiquette—probably more so than the average American.

“Every morning we put it out at sunrise, we’d go out every night after work, bring it in and fold it the right way. It was very ceremonious,” Daniels recently told Military.com. “It was instilled in me very early that this flag represents the freedoms we enjoy today. It’s not just about the Fourth of July, it’s not just about the special days; it’s about every day. And that was something that I held near and dear to my heart.”

Daniels’ patriotism remained strong as he grew up, eventually leading him to join the Army Special Forces. After his service, he sought a way to continue defending the values symbolized by Old Glory, even if he couldn’t do it personally.

“I walked right out of a college class in 2003 and directly to a recruiter’s office to sign [on] the dotted line,” Daniels said. “Within three months, I was in boot camp. I was a lost soul and just did not feel any compelling purpose for college. This was around the time that the war in Iraq kicked off, and I just knew I could do more there.”

Daniels joined the Army’s 18X program, which allowed him to go directly into Special Forces training. After boot camp, he went through Airborne School and the Special Forces Q-Course. By 2005, he was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group. A year later, he arrived in Iraq for the first of two deployments. Stepping off a C-17 Globemaster III, he saw the American flag flying on the airfield, which brought him a sense of comfort and reassurance amidst the uncertainty of combat.

“I remember not knowing what to expect going into combat,” Daniels recalled. “I was 22, and it was my first time actually going to war. I remember being at peace with it, but still not knowing what to expect. I’ll never forget coming off of a C-17 and seeing, very distinctly, the flag flying right on the airfield in Baghdad.”

When Daniels left the U.S. military in 2010, he fulfilled a promise to his dad to finish college. However, like many veterans, he struggled to figure out his next steps. Seeking guidance, he connected with Jason Van Camp, a former teammate and the founder of Warrior Rising, a nonprofit that helps veterans launch their business ideas. The two discussed the political climate, particularly the tensions surrounding the American flag, and Daniels felt compelled to do something.

Amidst the protests around the 2016 presidential election and other global protests where American flags were burned, Daniels felt that the discourse didn’t represent the values instilled in him. He wanted to create a flag that could withstand attempts to burn it, leading to the birth of Firebrand Flags in 2020.

The flags made by Firebrand use the same Kevlar-based fire retardant and manufacturing processes as U.S. military combat uniforms. They are engineered for durability to withstand the elements, preventing fraying and discoloration. Importantly, these flags are made in the United States, with each star hand-sewn onto the blue field.

“We wanted a flag that not just embodied the fighting spirit that our men and women have but could actually defend itself from people who wanted to do it harm, people who wanted to disparage the flag or burn the flag,” Daniels said. “It was important for me that the stars were hand-sewn, and everything else is made in America.”

For a limited time, Firebrand Flags is offering a special World War II-era vintage 48-star flag that was airdropped into Normandy, France, with the cast of the HBO series “Band of Brothers” to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. To learn more about Firebrand Flags and their “Old Glory” classic flag, visit the Firebrand Flags website.

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