Stars and Stripes is back in business.
A California RV dealership is defiantly flying a giant American flag after local officials ordered it to be taken down earlier this year, but more than 250 other stores across the country have no problem proudly flying similarly sized Stars and Stripes.
Camping World, located on Interstate 5 just outside Stockton, is known for the giant American flag that hangs on its grounds, but in April the San Joaquin County Community Development Agency ordered it removed for safety reasons and because it did not have a permit. Fox40 reported:.
County officials said this isn’t a flag issue, but a public safety issue, and they’re particularly concerned about the flagpole’s base and its proximity to property lines and highways in case it were to fall.
Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis, star of CNBC’s “The Profit,” ordered dealers to issue warnings on Monday after learning the problem was continuing.
“If I felt like I was putting people at risk or causing problems for air traffic, which is a no-no, I wouldn’t do it,” Lemonis, 50, told Fox 40.
Camping World has since applied for a permit, which is under review by the county.
Lemonis said if it was a marketing flag rather than an American flag on the pole, he would consider leaving it down until it was approved.
But no matter what the county says, Old Glory will remain, he said.
“It symbolizes how we feel about this country. We have a lot of veterans that work for us and a lot of veterans that shop with us,” Lemonis said.
He said he is proud to fly the flag, given his journey to becoming an American.
“I happen to be an immigrant,” the Lebanon-born entrepreneur said, “and I’m grateful to have been given the blessing of entering this country and gaining citizenship.”
“Flags have been a part of my life since I was a kid growing up in Miami, Florida. Our car dealership had the largest flagpole in Miami.”
Of Camping World’s more than 250 dealerships across the U.S., all are permitted to fly large American flags, except for stores in San Joaquin County.
“The Camping World flagpole was installed without a building permit or plan approval and we are in discussions with the Code Enforcement Division,” the county told Fox 40 in a statement.
The Post has reached out to Camping World and San Joaquin County Community Development for comment.
