More Than A Salute
Flags Crafted By Hand And Lifted By Love Of Country
By Raoul Dennis
Like most artists, David J. Claffy was born with a certain talent but it took years before he learned what, if anything, he would do with it.
In 2017, it began to come together: pair love for country with the York College business degree he earned to make hand crafted flags on natural pinion wood. He and his wife, Madalyn, formed FarmHouse Products USA and it has been growing ever since.
“I combined my joy for business and skills and love for America and started making American flags,” said the 28 year old Maryland native.
FarmHouse Products USA makes handcrafted American flags in different styles. Claffy creates the flags from a template and does all the work in his Friendship, Maryland-based barn – a space that has roots going back to the 1600s with a history longer than the flags he crafts today.
The work has already opened doors for him in producing work for Maryland leaders including former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening, Congressman Steny Hoyer and current Governor Larry Hogan. Most recently, Claffy attended a luncheon of the Andrews Business & Community Alliance (see photos, click here), an organization that “meshes the business, civic, faith and public sector communities in providing advocacy and support for Joint Base Andrews.” Claffy created flags presented by Mona Electric to Andrews Alliance President and CEO Jim Estepp.
Mona Electric is one of the nation’s largest providers of electrical service, electrical construction, fire alarm systems, sprinkler, security systems and voice/data/video solutions.
“It’s an honor to be here to express our thanks to you for all the help and support you have been to the Mona companies for over 30 years,” said John “Randy” Kurty Executive Vice President of the Mona companies to Estepp and the esteemed audience. Kurty shared a few of the experiences Mona leaders shared with Estepp through the years but especially pride in the Christmas in April program founded some 30 years ago.
“Over the past 30 years in Prince George’s County alone we have had the assistance of almost 94,000 volunteers who have repaired almost 2,800 homes of senior citizens who are either low income or physically challenged so that they can live in warmth, safety and independence. It amounts to close to $50 million in free home repairs. With Jim’s help and the help of the Roundtable, that has all been accomplished.”
A Maryland flag was also presented to welcome Major General Ricky Rupp who was attending his first meeting of the Alliance as Commander of the Air Force District of Washington.
Estepp accepted the honor on behalf of the Estepp family and the Roundtable, the parent body to the Alliance.
“This is a team effort,” Jim Estepp said accepting the flag. “It’s everybody here who belongs to the organization and gives of their time and talent and resources. This alliance is about the military. It’s our honor to be here. Anything that makes it easier for you to do your job, that’s what we’re about. I see these presentations as being on behalf Joint Base Andrews on the one case and on behalf of the Alliance on the other. Thank you [Mona Electric] and thank you David for your talent.”
Claffy says making the presentations hit home for him – a special place in his heart.
“I enjoy doing this – traveling and meeting veterans and hearing their stories. I love learning the history of America. I am inspired that people enjoy my work. I love hearing when family members give a flag to law enforcement members or someone in the military or when a parent gives one to a child in the military – it brings me joy,” he says.
It takes Claffy up to four hours to make each flag. He uses no heavy machinery and takes pride in the hand-crafted work that makes each project a custom job.
The Annapolis born artist says he hopes to grow the company to include more woodwork crafters but for now it’s just he and Madalyn who maintains her day job as a school teacher.
“This is full time for me,” Claffy says. “I hope to do more with Mona Electric. I would like to do more with them to present flags to people who are outstanding members of the community. I want to take this whole thing as far as I can.”
