• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • About RAA
    • Meet Sherry Truhlar
    • What makes us unique
    • Reviews/Clients
    • Press
    • Licensing
  • Contact
  • Client Login

Fundraising gala auctioneer Sherry Truhlar

  • Services
    • Onsite Auction Services
    • Virtual Auction Services
    • Fund a Need Experts
    • Consulting
    • Onsite workshops
  • Products
    • $10 Trainings
    • On Demand Webinars
    • Books
  • Speaking
    • Why Sherry
    • Keynote and Other Topics
    • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Free Resources
    • Virtual Gala Cheat Sheet
    • Newsletter
    • Auction Item Guide™
    • Blog
  • Store
You are here: Home / Blog Post / How to display a flag selling at a benefit auction
Jul 23

How to display a flag selling at a benefit auction

Sherry Truhlar 2 Comments

“At the request of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, this flag was flown over the United States Capitol on January 20, 2009 on the occasion of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America."

This flag was flown over the United States Capitol on January 20, 2009, the inauguration of Barack Obama.  I sold it at a school auction.

My team recently fielded a question by LinkedIn reader Ed in Oklahoma City. 

Ed was curious about how he should display a couple of flags he’d procured. He would be selling them in his benefit auction. Each would likely go into a separate package, but could be sold individually.

He wanted ideas. 

“A folded flag doesn’t seem too appealing to me,” he wrote.

Well, it might not be appealing. But that’s how most are sold.

silent auction item displays flags

This flag was signed by President H.W. Bush and wife Barbara, and President George W. Bush and his wife Laura. I sold it at a school auction a few years ago.

Typically flags are folded and stored in a triangular wooden case designed for flags. (See first photo above.)

On the positive side, this style of case makes the item easy to carry and protects the flag itself.

In contrast, signed flags are handled differently. 

In those cases, the flag is usually framed in a manner similar to how a sports jersey would be displayed. The flat framing enables the signatures to be shown.

Here's a close-up of the signatures.

Here’s a close-up of the signatures.

Wait a second!

That begs the question … is it even legal to sign a flag?

I didn’t think it was?

My suspicions were confirmed after reading the Flag Code. 

Ahem. Someone might want to let a couple of our former Presidents know.

Share on Facebook Share
Share on TwitterTweet
Share on Pinterest Share
Share on LinkedIn Share
Send email Mail
Copyright © 2013 Red Apple Auctions Co. All Rights Reserved

About Sherry Truhlar

Fundraising auctioneer and educator, helping schools and nonprofits plan more profitable benefit auctions. A prolific writer for her own blog and other fundraising sites, she’s been covered in The Beacon-News, Town & Country Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Wiley's Special Events Galore!, AUCTIONEER, and other publications.

Reader Interactions

One of my benefit auction associates honored (in his own way) by this nonprofit
One silent auction display idea for jewelry, furs, and fashion

Comments

  1. Michele Hall says

    August 3, 2017 at 11:04 PM

    How do I go about getting one of the flags for an auction.

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      August 3, 2017 at 11:23 PM

      Simply ask your congressman, Michele.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

CONNECT WITH ME HERE

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • youtube
  • feedburner

home | auctioneering | consulting | free item guide | about

 

Red Apple Auctions Co., PO Box 6066, Arlington, VA 22206
Toll free: 888-474-0838 | Email: Info@RedAppleAuctions.com | Copyright © 2005 - 2022

 

Sherry Truhlar • Charity Auctions • School Auctions • Fundraising Auctions • Auction Galas • Benefit Auctions

 

Terms of Use · Privacy Statement