Various storefronts throughout downtown Palmerton are showing off their sense of patriotism leading up to America’s milestone birthday.

Those merchants who are can thank the Sew What Quilt Guild for the personal touch through the creation of hand-crafted flags that now adorn their businesses.

The group was asked by the Palmerton 250th Anniversary Committee to create a patriotic flag to commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth.

As part of the initiative, the Sew What Quilt Guild crafted close to 100 flags, each of which took between two and two and a half hours to sew.

“We gave flags out to the merchants on Delaware Avenue,” Sew What Quilt Guild member Carol Costenbader said. “We are encouraging each business to show their patriotism and proudly display this flag in their store front window throughout the 250th anniversary year.”

Costenbader said they had about 35 members of the Sew What Quilt Guild make the quilts.

She said that Carol Moll and Carol Meixell came up with the design of the flags the Sew What Quilt Guild gave out.

Costenbader added they also had four people deliver the flags to the merchants, including Mary Tobia and Ann Hayes, along with Meixell and Costenbader.

Costenbader noted that Carol Curcio, a member of the 250th Anniversary Committee, suggested that Costenbader approach the group with a flag project.

“Everybody was excited to help,” Costenbader said. “We’re happy people will keep these up for the rest of this year.”