Huge flag in Valrico symbolizes love of country... and neighborhood pride!

VALRICO, Fla. - Up at the top of a 130 foot pole that used to corner off high voltage power lines sits a 30 by 60 foot flag. One that is proudly unfurled in the Valrico neighborhood that Marty Winters is proud to call home.

But don't call this his flag.

"Well, it's the community's and mine," he said, correcting the questioner who asked him how much he's sunk into this display.

"I don't consider it mine, mine. It's not all about me."

That Marty just happened to have an old power pole laying around in a scrap yard in Wachula... and just happened to bring it here to the center of his acreage just off Lithia Pinecrest Road and got his neighbors to help dig a 20 foot hole, anchor the pole and hoist the oversized Old Glory onto it is just this baby boomer's way of honoring those who've served his country.

"It's something I can do," he said. "And I talked to my neighbors and after you shake their hands and find out how much it means to 'em you know some of these people have lost a kid or a dad or those kind of people and when you shake their hand and talk to them and ask them if you can put it up they say 'sure,' and then you find out how much it means to everybody."

And while we visited, it appeared that what this means the most is that sense of pride, for the entire neighborhood of apartments, single family homes and old oak trees. At sunset, folks like to come by as Winters lights up the flag, and the flags of the various armed services -- and his neighborhood -- with the glow of patriotism.

Just don't call this his.

"I am just a tool," he said, as he continued to deflect any questions of how much it cost to erect...

"I was just able to do it is all. And I am glad I got it done."