Army veteran creates custom flags to support veterans

Leading up to the Fourth of July, people begin to put their American flags on display.

Eyewitness News anchor Stephanie Maxwell met a local Army veteran who said those flags sparked his idea to help soldiers who suffer once they return home.

Six-year Army veteran Dan Berei receives worn uniforms from all over the country and the world so he can cut them up.

Berei is the founder of Combat Flags.

When his military career ended in 2009, Berei was looking for a way to stay connected to his military brothers and sisters.

He takes a four-by-six piece of uniform from one of the branches, uses heat transfer vinyl to stamp an American flag on it and sells them to military buffs online.

He also stitches a special message on each one.

“On the back, I put a short bio of who actually wore the uniforms,” Berei said.

He also uses the business to give back by donating a portion of his proceeds to the Raleigh-Durham based organization Stop Soldier Suicide.

Berei told Channel 9 that it's hard to see men and women come home from serving the country and struggle alone.

“If they feel that their only option is to end their own life -- I feel like between me and everyone else out there who served -- we can step up and make a difference and we can help them,” Berei said.

He gets so many requests for flags, he's now limited to making no more than 20 a month.

He ships them all over the world, even to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Berei said every time he starts cutting the material it takes him back to his time supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and reminds him how this is making a difference for other veterans.

“I would get the familiar scents, and I would be able to feel the material. It brought back a lot of good memories and a lot of stuff that made me who I am today,” Berei said.

Berei has donated more than $10,000 to stop soldier suicide.

Cox Media Group