How Findlay, Ohio Became Flag City USA — And Why Every 4th of July Turns the Town Red, White, and Blue
There’s something different in the air when you walk through Findlay, Ohio in July. It’s not just the scent of backyard grills, the sound of kids playing with sparklers, or the low rumble of lawn chairs being set out for the parade. It’s the flags. They’re everywhere — waving on porches, lining sidewalks, draped over fences, and even painted on mailboxes. This isn’t just a display. It’s a tradition. It’s an identity. It’s why Findlay proudly calls itself Flag City USA.
But this title didn’t just appear overnight. It’s a story that stretches back decades, starting with one man and one simple idea: that patriotism could be something you see, not just feel. In the 1960s, a man named John B. Cooke, a local leader of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, believed that the American flag should be visible in every part of town. He organized an effort to place flags in front of homes and businesses, not just for the 4th of July, but throughout the year. People loved it. The idea caught on so quickly that by the early 1970s, thousands of flags were being placed all around Findlay.
It wasn’t about politics. It wasn’t about showing off. It was about community. It was about respect. And it was about pride — not just in a country, but in a town that found a unique way to honor it.
In 1974, Findlay made it official. The U.S. House of Representatives recognized it as Flag City USA, and ever since, that title has stuck like glue — and so has the tradition.
Today, driving into Findlay around the 4th of July feels like stepping into a living postcard. Rows of flags stretch endlessly down the main streets. There are American flag banners hanging from streetlights. Front yards bloom with red, white, and blue flowers. Even the local businesses join in — barbershops, diners, gas stations — each proudly adding to the city’s color palette. No one forces it. It’s just what Findlay does.
And the people of Findlay? They’re proud of it. In fact, they talk about the flags like old family friends. A local woman, Donna, who’s lived in Findlay her entire life, once told a local newspaper, “The flags don’t make us patriotic. They just show the world what’s already in our hearts.” Her neighbor, a retired veteran, nodded and said, “It reminds me that we’re still together, even when the world feels divided.”
This is what makes Findlay’s story so real. It’s not a gimmick or a tourist stunt. It’s small-town pride, wrapped in stripes and stars, passed down from one generation to the next.
More Than Decoration — A Feeling of Unity
Every year, the city puts together a Flag Day celebration in June that leads into the massive 4th of July events. Local volunteers, including schoolkids, veterans, and community groups, help raise thousands of flags across town. You’ll see families walking together, one person holding the pole, the other pushing the ground spike in. It’s like a silent ritual, a moment of respect, repeated house after house.
During the parade, kids sit on the curb with little flags in hand, waiting for the fire trucks, marching bands, and dance teams to come by. The entire town — from teachers to truck drivers — lines up to cheer. What makes it more than a parade, though, is the feeling in the air. It’s a mix of joy, nostalgia, and something deeply emotional. People don’t just wave the flags — they remember what they mean.
Even on regular days in Findlay, the flags don’t go away. Many residents keep them up all year round. Some even say it gives them comfort — like a quiet promise that no matter what’s going on in the world, their town still believes in unity.
And while it may be easy to think of this as just a Midwest thing — another small town doing small town things — Findlay stands out because it’s consistent. Year after year, generation after generation, it keeps the tradition alive. In fact, the city has its own Flag City Honor Flight, a program that helps veterans visit war memorials in Washington D.C. It’s just another way Findlay shows that it doesn’t stop at symbols — it turns pride into action.
Even on social media, you’ll see the town’s residents posting pictures with captions like “Only in Flag City 🇺🇸” or “Our street wins the 4th again!” TikToks showing blocks covered in flags get thousands of likes, and many users comment saying they wish their towns did the same.
And the funny thing is, none of it is required. There’s no rule. No city ordinance. Just people choosing, together, to make their town look like it still believes in something.
That might be the most beautiful part of it all — no one has to tell Findlay to raise the flag. They just do.
