By Lauren H. Dowdle
Photos by Keith McCoy, Patrick McGough & Contributed
Anyone who has attended a festival, parade or other patriotic event in Hoover or a surrounding city in the past few years has probably spotted Roy Brook and his American flag.
Often referred to as the “flag man,” Roy attends events such as funerals for military members and first responders, benefit runs, celebrations, motorcycle rides and political events in the Birmingham area and beyond.
He stands with his flag through the heat, rain, cold or whatever mother nature throws his way. Depending on what’s going on, Roy attends anywhere from one event a week to several in a day. While he’s met a lot of people through this endeavor, he says he doesn’t want the focus to be on him.
“The reason I do this is not for notoriety,” Roy says. “It’s just something I love to do, and people have been very supportive.”
What he now calls the American flag project started after he retired from more than two decades of driving trucks. On Memorial Day in 2016, Roy and his wife were watching a patriotic show on television, and he says he felt convicted to do something to honor those who serve. So, the couple put on their best patriotic clothes, drove to the intersection of Highway 280 and Highway 459 and walked up and down the median with an American flag on a pool skimming pole.
“Traffic was light because of the holiday, but we got a good response,” Roy says. “It made me think I’d like to continue doing this.”
When he first started going to events with the flag, he says no one knew who he was. Roy recalls attending the 9/11 event at one of the Hoover fire stations and standing in the yard while the first responders were in the bay.
“The man promoting the event forgot to bring the American flag,” Roy says. “No one knew who I was, but they saw me out in the yard. The man said, ‘Get him in here.’ I’ve been friends with him and the fire department ever since.”
Roy hasn’t slowed down, either. He eventually traded in his pole skimmer for a new flag and pole that he received from members of the American Legion Post 205 in Clay-Trussville. He has now traveled around Alabama and to nearby states such as Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Florida with his flag.
Roy says most people he comes in contact with while he’s out with the flag are appreciative that he’s there and come by and shake his hand or share encouraging words with him. He also never sits down while he’s holding the flag, saying that would be disrespectful.
If he sees anyone else sitting while holding the flag or handling it improperly, he’ll say something to them.
“I’ve stood for nine hours one time,” Roy says. “At the end, I could barely walk, but I don’t feel it while I’m standing there.”
Though Roy isn’t a veteran, his youngest son retired from the United States Army, and Roy says his family appreciates what he’s doing. In addition to the ones closest to him, he’s also earned recognition in Hoover and beyond.
In 2023, Roy was honored with the annual Freedom Award by the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce and Hoover Veterans Committee. This award goes to someone who lives or works in the city; supports the local, state or federal government; and promotes the ideals of freedom.
“When they said they were going to enter me in for the award, I thought that was great but didn’t expect anything,” Roy says. “When I found out I won, it caught me off guard. I really enjoyed it, and it was a really rewarding experience.”
The American Legion Post 555, known as Triple Nickel, also presented Roy with an appreciation award a few years ago. The group invited him to their Thanksgiving dinner in Pelham, but he didn’t know he was going to be recognized.
“I was sitting in the back minding my own business, and the guy on stage was saying nice things about someone,” Roy remembers. “Then, someone came and got me and brought me down to the front and presented me with a very nice award. It just floored me.”
While it’s been nice to be recognized, Roy says his focus isn’t on all of that. He simply loves his country and supporting those who serve it.
“I appreciate the awards and recognition but never feel worthy of them,” Roy says. “Anybody could come along and do what I do.”
While he attends a wide variety of events with his flag, Roy says his priority has become going to funerals for miliary service members and first responders—whether he knows the individual and their family or not. He tends to stay toward the back away from the main activity to give family and friends their privacy, unless he’s invited to join them.
“Funerals at all levels have been my main focus the past few years,” Roy says. “Those are special to me.”
In April, he stood outside of the roast of Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis. More than $190,000 was raised from this event for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“I’ve got to know a lot of people in Hoover and beyond,” Roy says.
When an event is over, he says he leaves and doesn’t draw attention to himself, keeping the focus on those who have served and the freedom they’ve fought to give this country. Roy will continue showing his support and patriotism by standing with his American flag at every funeral, festival, remembrance ceremony and event he’s able to attend.
Did you know?
Check out these facts about the American flag.
- Robert “Bob” G. Heft, then 17-years-old, designed the current American flag as a school project in 1958.
- On July 4, 1960, when Hawaii was incorporated as a state, the American flag got its 50th and final star.
- Six American flags have been placed on the moon.
- The American flag should never be dipped for any person or thing.
- The American flag should not touch anything beneath it.
- The red on the flag represents valor and bravery; white represents purity and innocence; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
