From Sept.14 through Sept. 16, more than 150 employees from Ruppert Landscape’s Maryland, Virginia and D.C. branches assisted Maryland artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg with the installation of In America: Remember, a public art display commemorating all Americans who have died due to COVID-19.
More than 660,000 white flags were installed on 20 acres of the National Mall at the base of the Washington Monument.
Conceptualized and executed by Firstenberg, Ruppert has assisted with bringing her vision to life using a combination of aerial mapping and design software to create a grid that encompasses the National Mall. To ensure symmetry during installation, teams used a custom-made grid tool to install the 4-inch-by-5-inch white flags.
The installation includes more than 143 sections, the majority of which are 60 by 60 feet, and each contains 5,329 flags. Team members from 10 local branches worked in teams of two during the three-day installation period. The exhibition is occurring concurrently in the digital sphere, allowing families across the nation to submit messages to personalize flags for their loved ones at InAmericaFlags.org.
“When people say, ‘We couldn’t have done it without you,’ they are usually speaking figuratively,” said Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg. “Without Ruppert Landscape, I literally could not have created In America: Remember. From the start, Craig (Ruppert) and his team have been all in — creating two unique systems for planting this massive array, helping with logistics and organization and working tirelessly to create a layout that meets the needs of the National Park Service, while also allowing for the ever-expanding number of flags. Ruppert Landscape models corporate goodness, setting the bar high for other companies.”
This is the second installation of In America, both of which Ruppert assisted with. The first occurred in the fall of 2020 on a 4-acre site at RFK Stadium, which was covered in 267,080 white flags before the exhibition ran out of space due to the mounting toll.
“We are always glad to be involved with projects that bring visibility and awareness to important issues or underserved populations,” said CEO Craig Ruppert. “When Suzanne brought this to us, we knew it was a project that would enable us to put our skills and teamwork to good use and we were glad to get involved.”
