Despite Gallup’s June 2025 data indicating that American pride has slipped to a record low, Americans are still seen across the globe as people who feel strongly about their country and its flag.
Per the survey, 58% of U.S. adults say they are “extremely” or “very” proud to be American. This represents a nine-point drop from 2024 and the lowest since Gallup began tracking this in 2001. Nonetheless, the pride and appreciation for the country and the freedom it offers are still largely present among the population.
From time to time, people who weren’t born in the U.S. but came there to pursue a better life become very loud about their appreciation for what the country gave them.
That’s the story of Marcus Lemonis, an immigrant from Lebanon who was adopted by an American family and grew up watching the massive American flags flying at his family’s car dealerships.
For Lemonis, flags became a symbol of the “American Dream” that welcomed him. When he became CEO of RV dealer Camping World (CWH), he made it a company mandate to fly oversized flags at the company’s locations to honor veterans and the country.
Several times, those supersized flags landed at the center of a dispute.
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Camping World faced several challenges with its huge American flags
The first major conflict erupted in Statesville, North Carolina, as a city ordinance limited flags to 25 feet by 40 feet, in part to prevent displays of oversize Confederate flags. The RV giant’s flag was 40 feet by 80 feet, and the city sued and began fining the company $50 per day, reported WFAE 90.7.
After years of legal battles and more than $11,000 in fines, the city finally gave approval in 2019, under public pressure and following a petition with more than 300,000 signatures, and Lemonis paid a settlement to end the case.
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In October 2024, Camping World hung an American flag close to the size of a basketball court at 3,200 square feet. It flew on a 130-foot-tall pole on the corner of Evans Street and Red Banks Road in Greenville, North Carolina. Councilmembers argued that the flag was almost double the size that regulations allowed.
In March 2025, the city voted to sue Lemonis personally, but Lemonis went on national news stating he would “rather go to jail” than take the flag down. In April, the legal battle was impacting his business and hurting sales, forcing Lemonis to unexpectedly shut down one of his two Greenville stores.
“Not when they sue, not when I lose, not if they take me to jail, the flag is not coming down,” Lemonis said in March 2025, according to WITN.
Later, in October 2025, the Greenville City Council voted 5-0 to dismiss its lawsuit against Camping World, reported News ABC 12.
The decision to drop the lawsuit came after a new House Bill 926, also known as the Regulatory Reform Act of 2025, took effect without Governor Josh Stein’s signature. Essentially, the bill prevents county or city regulators from restricting the U.S. or state flag from being flown on private or public property with owner consent.
After a year of fines and a store closure, Lemonis officially won the right to keep the flag flying.
Earlier this year, Camping World once again made headlines over one of its large flags.
Camping World’s $7,000 flag recovered after theft
In January 2026, a massive American flag, valued at $7,000 and measuring roughly 3,200 square feet, was stolen from the Camping World dealership in Roseville, Calif., according to ABC 10.
The theft happened around 8:20 p.m., according to surveillance video. One person exited a vehicle, climbed over a fence, and cut a cable holding the flag.
The flag was then pulled off the pole and moved to the waiting vehicle with the driver behind the wheel. A license plate number was visible, Camping World manager told ABC10, describing the surveillance video.
“I couldn’t believe it. Just unbelievable. Why would someone do this?” said Rodney Bonner, general manager of Camping World, as reported by KCRA.
According to Bonner, the thieves caused an estimated $4,800 in damage to the wiring.
“The first thing in the morning, friends who drive by here at 6 a.m. were calling us asking, ‘Why did you take your flag down?’ We didn’t take it down,” Bonner said.
“When we put that thing up, it took six of us to stop it from dragging on the ground,” Lochlan Emmerton, retail manager at Camping World Roseville, told CBS News. “It’s a massive flag. We just want the flag back, that’s all we care about, so we can raise it again and show our appreciation for this country.”
Roseville police managed to track down the stolen flag to Citrus Heights, where it was recovered and returned to Camping World.
“We had no idea the impact it would make on the community and on people who drive by Interstate 80,” Bonner said.
Camping World CEO and “The Fixer’’ billionaire Marcus Lemonis continues to fight for large flags. He is currently supporting a massive campaign to install a permanent towering American flag over the heart of Ground Zero/Freedom Tower “as a long-overdue tribute to those lost on September 11, 2001, and to the sacrifice of first responders, serving as a visible symbol of strength, unity, and resilience.”
The petition currently has 106,390 signatures, along with funds committed by Lemonis.
Camping World quick facts:
- Camping World is one of the nation’s largest retailers of RVs, RV accessories, and RV-related services.
- It has operated since 1966.
- The retailer started with a single store in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and grew to a large RV dealer with more than 130 SuperCenters nationwide and a full-service call center.
- It went public in 2016, raising $251 million.
- In addition to RV parts and accessories, Camping World offers a full selection of new and used RVs.
- Currently, the company has a market cap of $1.14 billion, and year to date, its shares are up 14.80% to $11.17 per share.
Sources: Camping World, Google Finance
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