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Nothing is impossible for Harold Haugen. Some may know him as the "Star Man." Ten years ago, he dreamt of lighting a giant star on the mountain above his home for the Christmas season, and he made that dream a reality. It's now a tradition that hundreds look forward to each year. Last year he had another dream...to suspend a massive American flag in that same canyon, and he made that happen too.
I'm proud to say that Harold Haugen is my dad, and I love that he dreams big and does it for the community and nothing else. He is on year two of hanging the flag for the summer holidays, and I see this as the beginning of a new tradition many people will look forward to each year.
Why would anyone want to go to such an effort?
My dad's parents came from Norway at the end of WWII, and they loved becoming Americans. They struggled learning English, but they did it. My grandpa fought as an American soldier in the Korean war, and they taught their children to work hard. They have always flown an American flag in their front yard and taught all of us to appreciate the freedoms and liberties we so often take for granted. My grandpa still tells about the day the U.S. forces came to his small town of Haugesund and freed them from the Nazi regime. He teaches us to be proud to be Americans. On a special family trip to Norway years ago, my grandma insisted that we all wear matching sweatshirts that said "USA" in big letters on the front. She was so proud to bring her family to her homeland, and wanted everyone there to know we were American {trust me, it was pretty obvious, even without the sweatshirts}.
So that's a little background for you.
Now let me tell you, my dad is the most selfless, hardworking person I know. He's also very patriotic and I've seen him tear up talking about our country's flag and what it represents. Throughout the history of our nation, the flag has been a symbol of bravery, freedom, liberty, and happiness to all the world. It waves hope to all who see it. At least that's how I see it.
When my dad saw small European villages displaying their countries' flags in canyons on his travels, the idea sparked to do this in his own neighborhood. So, a couple family dinners worth of talking and planning and the first flag went up last year. I didn't think it could be done, but he did it! It was three days worth of work last year. This year, there was a new plan involving a couple remote controlled Phantom helicopters to carry lines {and video cameras!} from one side of the canyon to the other, which made the work so much faster {three hours instead of three days!}. And next year it will probably be even better. He is grateful for the team of people that help him with this project.
The flag is 25x40 feet, and the most beautiful sight I've ever seen. If you live in the SLC area, you'll find it at the mouth of Little Willow Canyon off of Wasatch Boulevard in Sandy.
Oh say, does that star spangled banner yet wave? O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
I hope it always will.
Please go watch the amazing video my sister Hailey edited with the footage she and my brother Trevor shot that day: http://www.somethingdevineblog.com/2014/07/red-white-and-blue.html
A news article is here: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=30571279
And to see me make a fool of myself on the news go here: http://fox13now.com/2014/07/03/giant-american-flag-flying-in-canyon-inspired-by-european-custom-patriotism/
Happy Fourth of July!
