September 14, 2001

Shoppers look for the flag, protection

By Donna De Marco THE WASHINGTON TIMES

American flags and gas masks have been flying off store shelves in the Washington area as a result of Tuesday's terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center's twin towers and left a gaping hole in the Pentagon.

Full Metal Jacket, an Army surplus store in Alexandria, has sold 200 gas masks in the past two days.

"They take it home hoping they never have to use it," said owner Mark Richards, who sold $1,400 worth of equipment, including a chemical protection suit, boots, gloves and a mask, to one customer.

Mr. Richards said he ordered 600 gas masks and 400 replacement filters on Tuesday expecting a rush of business over the next couple of days. "I'm here in business to make a profit," he said. "I stock large quantities of things in anticipation of events like this."

The majority of Full Metal Jacket's sales this week were gas masks ranging from $28 to more than $80. Customers are buying, on average, $100 to $200 worth of merchandise, Mr. Richards said.

Mr. Richards' gun shop, Potomac Arms, has had an increase in ammunition sales since Tuesday.

Valley Gun of Baltimore has sold some guns this week, but owner Sanford Abrams said he wasn't sure if their intended use was for home protection due to Tuesday's attacks or for hunting purposes, since this is the middle of hunting season.

Jeffrey Gildenhorn bought stars-and-stripes scarves and bandannas for all his wait staff to wear at American City Diner on Connecticut Avenue but found U.S. flags sold out at Ranger Surplus in Bethesda.

Sales clerk Orion Cottrell said they had no U.S. flags of any type left by 1 p.m. Wednesday but hoped to get a shipment by noon today.

Souvenir shops in the District were busy placing orders of flags -- in all shapes and sizes -- as a result of heavy demand from patrons.

Best of D.C., located at Union Station, was waiting on a new shipment of flags yesterday. The store, which sells Washington, D.C., paraphernalia, sold out of the patriotic symbols earlier in the day.

"Everyone keeps asking for the American flags," said Monica Estevez, an employee at Best of D.C. "People are asking for New York stuff, too."

By mid-afternoon, the store had only one Pentagon postcard left.

Destination D.C., a sister store located at Union Station, sold 100 mini-flags at 25 cents each to a customer yesterday. On Wednesday, the store also sold about 20 T-shirts with the American flag on the front.

Tuesday's events have brought more business to the shop than usual. This is the store's slow time of year because the tourist season is over, said Miriam Aquino, store manager.

Alamo Flag, a tiny corner shop on the street level of Union Station, had swarms of patriotic patrons searching for different sizes of flags all day yesterday. The constant flow of customers were buying up dozens of flags ranging from $3.99 to $79.

Telephones at U.S. flag manufacturers rang busy all afternoon, and many turned to Canada for U.S. flags.

"We can't even get through to our sister company in Salt Lake City," said Arlene Flock, president of Flagworks Inc. in Calgary, Alberta. "I have a fax here saying, 'we'll take 100,000 of whatever [U.S. flags] you have'" from Home Shopping Market, and another order for 150,000 from another U.S. company.

Ms. Flock said her Calgary retail outlet is selling a U.S. flag about every five minutes to Canadians who want to show their support.

D.C. street vendors didn't have as much luck with business yesterday, considering not too many tourists were walking by their stands -- full of generic T-shirts that say "U.S.A.," "America" or "Washington, D.C."

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Answers

many turned to Canada for U.S. flags.

hey you guys! When you buy those flags, check to see where they were made. Okay?

Be rather insulting to be waving one that said 'made in china' don't you think?

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

I have a flag and wall mount in the garage, what are the does and don'ts on puting one up and when to fly it?

Something that would be an excellent thing to put away for emergencies is a box of cheap painters mask, like a lot of people were wearing in New York. They might come in handy.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Friday, September 14 7:23 AM SGT

Worried after attacks, Los Angeles locals rush to buy gas masks, provisions

LOS ANGELES, Sept 13 (AFP) - Worried that the devastating terrorist attacks in New York and Washington might possibly be followed up by an onslaught in Los Angeles, residents here on the West Coast rushed to stocks up on food, US flags, and military gear including gas masks.

"We had a few customers with the impression that this is going to lead us to World War III as soon as we find out exactly who did this," said Peter Kalaydjian, owner of a shop selling survival materials, while surrounded by gas masks and bulletproof jackets.

"More of my customers are a lot more sane," he said.

These include lawyers, doctors, security guards and other "regular people" who, since Tuesday's suicide attacks against the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, have bought in defense materials including knives, helmets and other things to help them in the event of an attack.

Kalaydjian said he sold more than 600 gas masks, and sales generally have multiplied by 10 times in the last three days.

Other sought-after articles include first-aid kits "because in the event of a disaster all the hospitals and ambulances are going to be full and people are trying to prepare to heal themselves as well.

"I'm out of gas masks and out of the flags that stick on windows as well as the big flags," said Ned Escaip, who has a small shop also selling military style material.

On Thursday, the US Congress urged all Americans to display the Stars and Stripes as a "symbol of solidarity."

Escaip has also sold large quantities of flashlights and batteries -- and had unusual requests from clients.

"A middle-aged lady came and bought a gas mask and wanted to know if I had one for dogs," he noted.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles supermarkets, which are used to taking precautions against earthquakes, people were also stocking up on some more basic products.

"The day the attacks happened people came to buy gallons of water and canned food and all of that, to make sure they prepare for anything," said Fuensanta Espinoza, a local supermarket supervisor. "It's not like they are doing any panic buying or anything like that."

The requests and local reaction appeared not to have caught trade people off-guard.

"The same thing happened the last time the United States bombed Baghdad and there were war threats and during the Desert Storm. It's the nature of our business," said Kalaydjian

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Maggie, I have some of those white painters (?) masks, but they don't travel well. At the moment I have a simple scarf in my purse. Someone suggested a surgical mask as something that might fold up in a wallet (if you don't have it with you, it won't do you any good!). Also safety goggles. I'll be checking my pharmacy to see if they carry surgical masks.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Flag up after sun comes up, down before the last rays leave.

Never let the Flag touch the ground, as it must be burned if it does.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

I'm gonna hafta try to find some striped and starred bunting or one of those swag thingies; that way I can leave it up 24/7.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

as long as there is a light shining on the flag so it is illuminated, you can leave it up at night.

Mine is in the window of the spare room. It faces the street, and I can leave the light on in that room and it lights it up just great.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Thank God for loopholes! I never know when I'm going to fall asleep or wake up.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Thanks all for the info on the flag.

Brooks, I have some painters mask and plan to put more then one in my bug out bag, I understand about them not folding well for your purse but, for my bag they should do fine. They take up such a small amount of space and may be of such importance to ones health, that having extras for others is an easy thing to do. More then Y2K, the events of the last few days have brought home the importance of at least having some bare (possibly life saving) essentials with you, in your office, home and in your car at all times.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001