Regardless of Gallup’s June 2025 knowledge indicating that American satisfaction has slipped to a file low, People are nonetheless seen throughout the globe as individuals who really feel strongly about their nation and its flag.
Per the survey, 58% of U.S. adults say they’re “extremely” or “very” proud to be American. This represents a nine-point drop from 2024 and the bottom since Gallup started monitoring this in 2001. Nonetheless, the satisfaction and appreciation for the nation and the liberty it affords are nonetheless largely current among the many inhabitants.
Occasionally, individuals who weren’t born within the U.S. however got here there to pursue a greater life turn out to be very loud about their appreciation for what the nation gave them.
That’s the story of Marcus Lemonis, an immigrant from Lebanon who was adopted by an American household and grew up watching the huge American flags flying at his household’s automotive dealerships.
For Lemonis, flags turned an emblem of the “American Dream” that welcomed him. When he turned CEO of RV seller Tenting World (CWH), he made it an organization mandate to fly outsized flags on the firm’s areas to honor veterans and the nation.
A number of instances, these supersized flags landed on the middle of a dispute.
Tenting World’s $7,000 flag made headlines but once more.
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Tenting World confronted a number of challenges with its enormous American flags
The primary main battle erupted in Statesville, North Carolina, as a metropolis ordinance restricted flags to 25 ft by 40 ft, partially to forestall shows of oversize Accomplice flags. The RV big’s flag was 40 ft by 80 ft, and town sued and commenced fining the corporate $50 per day, reported WFAE 90.7.
After years of authorized battles and greater than $11,000 in fines, town lastly gave approval in 2019, below public stress and following a petition with greater than 300,000 signatures, and Lemonis paid a settlement to finish the case.
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In October 2024, Tenting World hung an American flag near the dimensions of a basketball courtroom at 3,200 sq. ft. It flew on a 130-foot-tall pole on the nook of Evans Avenue and Crimson Banks Street in Greenville, North Carolina. Councilmembers argued that the flag was virtually double the dimensions that rules allowed.
In March 2025, town voted to sue Lemonis personally, however Lemonis went on nationwide information stating he would “rather go to jail” than take the flag down. In April, the authorized battle was impacting his enterprise and hurting gross sales, forcing Lemonis to unexpectedly shut down considered one of his two Greenville shops.
“Not when they sue, not when I lose, not if they take me to jail, the flag is not coming down,” Lemonis mentioned in March 2025, in response to WITN.
Later, in October 2025, the Greenville Metropolis Council voted 5-0 to dismiss its lawsuit towards Tenting World, reported Information ABC 12.
The choice to drop the lawsuit got here after a brand new Home Invoice 926, also referred to as the Regulatory Reform Act of 2025, took impact with out Governor Josh Stein’s signature. Primarily, the invoice prevents county or metropolis regulators from proscribing the U.S. or state flag from being flown on personal or public property with proprietor consent.
After a yr of fines and a retailer closure, Lemonis formally received the suitable to maintain the flag flying.
Earlier this yr, Tenting World as soon as once more made headlines over considered one of its massive flags.
Tenting World’s $7,000 flag recovered after theft
In January 2026, a large American flag, valued at $7,000 and measuring roughly 3,200 sq. ft, was stolen from the Tenting World dealership in Roseville, Calif., in response to ABC 10.
The theft occurred round 8:20 p.m., in response to surveillance video. One particular person exited a automobile, climbed over a fence, and lower a cable holding the flag.
The flag was then pulled off the pole and moved to the ready automobile with the motive force behind the wheel. A license plate quantity was seen, Tenting World supervisor instructed ABC10, describing the surveillance video.
“I couldn’t believe it. Just unbelievable. Why would someone do this?” mentioned Rodney Bonner, common supervisor of Tenting World, as reported by KCRA.
In response to Bonner, the thieves brought about an estimated $4,800 in injury to the wiring.
“The first thing in the morning, friends who drive by here at 6 a.m. were calling us asking, ‘Why did you take your flag down?’ We didn’t take it down,” Bonner mentioned.
“When we put that thing up, it took six of us to stop it from dragging on the ground,” Lochlan Emmerton, retail supervisor at Tenting World Roseville, instructed CBS Information. “It’s a massive flag. We just want the flag back, that’s all we care about, so we can raise it again and show our appreciation for this country.”
Roseville police managed to trace down the stolen flag to Citrus Heights, the place it was recovered and returned to Tenting World.
“We had no idea the impact it would make on the community and on people who drive by Interstate 80,” Bonner mentioned.
Tenting World CEO and “The Fixer’’ billionaire Marcus Lemonis continues to battle for big flags. He’s at present supporting a large marketing campaign to put in a everlasting towering American flag over the center of Floor Zero/Freedom Tower “as a long-overdue tribute to those lost on September 11, 2001, and to the sacrifice of first responders, serving as a visible symbol of strength, unity, and resilience.”
The petition at present has 106,390 signatures, together with funds dedicated by Lemonis.
Tenting World fast information:
- Tenting World is likely one of the nation’s largest retailers of RVs, RV equipment, and RV-related providers.
- It has operated since 1966.
- The retailer began with a single retailer in Bowling Inexperienced, Kentucky, and grew to a big RV seller with greater than 130 SuperCenters nationwide and a full-service name middle.
- It went public in 2016, elevating $251 million.
- Along with RV components and equipment, Tenting World affords a full number of new and used RVs.
- Presently, the corporate has a market cap of $1.14 billion, and yr thus far, its shares are up 14.80% to $11.17 per share.
Sources: Tenting World, Google Finance
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