Everything is bigger in Texas, and SeaWorld doesn't disappoint, especially when it comes to patriotism. Every morning at 10 a.m. time stops as we honor our country with the playing of the National Anthem. It's an amazing spectacle to behold: nearly every man, woman and child (team member and guest alike) falls still in revered silence with a hand over their heart to face the flag. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it now... everyone and I mean everyone drops whatever it is that they are doing to share a special moment together. It's beautiful, but before these tears in my eyes have the chance to trickle down my face and onto the keyboard, let's talk about just how awesome our national flag is.
SeaWorld San Antonio is big... bigger than its two other SeaWorld parks. So you'd have to imagine that our flag would have to be big, as well, or it would get lost among the many rides, attractions and other feasts for the eye. It's large enough to be visible from the highway. Our park's flag stands 180 feet above ground and its dimensions are a whopping 30 by 20 feet! That's one heck of a lot of red, white, and blue, ladies and gentlemen. And we're darn proud of it.
Most of us don't really think about the life of a flag, but when you're that high in the sky those ferocious winds can have a way with the hand-sewn material-- no matter how strong it may be. We replace our flag about seven to nine times a year (and that's only after several attempts of mending the tattered flag by patchwork). It's tough work being a flag, and she waves in beauty 24/7. Our flag is the second highest point in Bexar county-- that's higher than the highest point of the Steel Eel (and just when you thought you were on top of the world at the tip of the hill... I hate to break it to you, but our flag stands taller)!
We hope you have the chance to come out today to experience a Texas-sized Independence Day celebration and behold our Texas-sized flag in all its glory. While you're here, don't forget to ride the Steel Eel and watch the flag wave gracefully in the wind above you in the moments before you plummet down that adrenaline-pumping hill. Happy 4th of July, folks. We hope you have a Shamu-style celebration, complete with a bird’s eye view of our national flag. God Bless the U.S.A!
