In a factory just south of Milwaukee, the American flag passes through dozens of hands before it ever reaches a front porch, schoolyard, or city hall. At Eder Flag, workers sew, fold, stitch, and inspect roughly five million U.S. flags each year—making the company one of the top flag manufacturers in the country.
In 2026, with America celebrating its 250th anniversary, the story of Eder Flag resonates more than ever. As the Emmy-winning National Geographic documentary The Flagmakers reveals, Eder isn’t just about flags. It’s about the people making them, many of whom arrived in the Midwest as immigrants and refugees searching for stability, safety, and belonging.
“What makes Eder special has always been the people,” says Jodi Goglio, chief operating officer and executive vice president. “You walk through this building and you see folks from all over the world working side by side, taking real pride in what they do.”…