The Spark

Christopher J. Staud, a U.S. Army veteran, founded the Forgotten Flag Foundation to promote unity, patriotism, and purpose. After nearly a decade of service, he channeled military discipline and camaraderie into a lasting mission: restoring pride in the American flag and national identity.

It began with an abandoned flagpole in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Chris rallied the community, raised funds, and rededicated the site on Flag Day with a WWII veteran—whose family had preserved the original eagle ornament since the 1950s.

Now angling to become a nationally recognized nonprofit, the foundation partners with schools, veterans’ groups, and civic organizations to inspire patriotism and bridge divides. Through storytelling, education, and service, Chris is turning a local restoration into a movement that unites Americans under a shared symbol of pride.