Stars and stripes blanket the Mat-Su

July 5, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU -- It's been said that you can tell a lot about people by glancing at their checkbook. Well, if retail outlets are any indication, then American patriotism in the Mat-Su resembles a patriotic pride that runs nationwide.

In the weeks leading up to Independence Day, Valley stores unloaded a bizarre array of Americana merchandise. From American flag-styled playing cards, candles, cribbage boards and coffee cups to red, white and blue balloons, drink mats and toothpicks, local stores equipped shoppers, head to toe, with red, white and blue.

No local store sold a wider range of patriotic goods than Wasilla-based Joanne Fabrics. Stars and stripes blanketed an array of wind chimes, wood buckets, hand towels, silk flowers, fabric designs and mini-windmills. The overwhelming patriotic sales, however, came from Old Glory herself.

"Ninety percent of it is flags," said Sheri, the manager on duty, who added that most of the Americana was sold out about two weeks before July 4.

"We had three sections full," she said last Wednesday. "Most of it's gone."

Nationally, 24.2 million people had planned to purchase patriotic merchandise in the weeks leading up to Independence Day celebrations.

According to a National Retail Federation survey, nearly 88 percent of American consumers were set to celebrate Independence Day, up from 85 percent in 2004.

More than 77 million people planned to watch fireworks or attend a community celebration this year, and the most popular holiday activities included barbecuing or cooking out (48.4 percent), watching fireworks (35.4 percent) and attending a parade (7.9 percent.).

The report also found that nearly 125 Americans own an American flag and more than 50 percent own patriotic apparel.

NRF President Tracy Mullin stated in a press release that people were celebrating in full force this year.

"Not only are Americans scooping up festive items from store shelves, they are also showing their patriotism by displaying American flags, planning outdoor picnics or barbecues and attending parades," he stated.

A giant mound of Americana merchandise met shoppers who entered the Fred Meyer store in Wasilla this past weekend. Bill Birky, the store manager, said patriotic purchases were a huge hit in the months after 9/11 but things have began to taper off since then.

"I think everyone who wanted flags bought them then and still have them," he said last week.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.