Recognizing the Patriotism of Gerald Culbertson

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Gerald Culbertson of Newburg, Franklin County, for his remarkable public display of patriotism, love of country, and support for Veterans.

In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, Gerald created what he believes to be one of the largest painted American flags in the country. The flag spans 190,000 square feet across a hillside along Burnt Mill Road.

Employed at Letterkenny Army Depot, Gerald said that his late father Wayne Culbertson was a primary source of inspiration for the project. Gerald stated, ``My father was always patriotic. He loved the Fourth of July, and I wanted to do something special.''

To complete the project, Gerald used more than 415 gallons of paint. He relied exclusively on hand measurements, foregoing GPS equipment, lasers, and computerized guidance. The flag's stripes are 23 feet wide, and the stars are 18 feet in length.

After nearly three months of field preparation and maintenance, Gerald devoted nearly four and a half days to painting the field. He received assistance from several family members.

Gerald was hopeful that President Trump would have an opportunity to view the flag as he flew to Carlisle for the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit.

On behalf of constituents throughout Franklin County and the entire 13th Congressional District, I congratulate Gerald on the fulfillment of his vision for the project and thank him for becoming a source of inspiration in his own right.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source