Written by Liz Morris, the CEO of Carrot-Top Industries, Inc. Liz shares what the U.S. flag and being an American means to her. You may submit your favorite American flag display photos and stories to qualify to win a flag set in June 2021 at: /one-country-one-flag

The flag has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father started Carrot-Top Industries in 1980, in the attic of our house in Chicago. I was born five years later, so in a sense, the business is part of my family, and I’ve known it all my life. Growing up, I remember putting labels on catalogs with my sister Darby, playing on the halyard spools in the warehouse and riding the Carrot-Top holiday float in the Hillsborough Parade.

One specific event stands out to me around the flag and my family in 2019. Most of the year was spent determining the approach to transition the business to me from my parents Dwight and Lynne. We had been working for months to come up with a plan so that Carrot-Top could stay in the family. During this time, I began to assume CEO duties under the watchful eye of Dwight. One of my first special projects was to beautify the area around Carrot-Top’s sign and flagpole outside. I worked secretly with several of my colleagues to design and create a small garden and a plaque dedicating the new space to Dwight and Lynne Morris. We unveiled the project to my parents and sister Darby on a beautiful fall morning, and they were overjoyed. It was a wonderful way to honor our flag, our business and most importantly, our family.

That’s what the flag means to me: community. Parents, siblings, coworkers and customers all supporting each other as best we can. We are all working together to continue what started back in my parent’s attic, and I could not be more excited for the future.