Comcast Volunteers Across Florida Unite to Honor the American Flag and Remember 9/11
In a powerful series of Team UP events held across Florida, Comcast employees came together on September 11th to honor the American flag through a meaningful initiative, the Grommet Keepsake Project. This year, volunteers gathered at 10 Comcast offices throughout the state to participate in the volunteer activities, including offices in Davie, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Jacksonville, Miami, Panama City, Tallahassee, North Venice and West Palm Beach.
Volunteers like Christine Diaz and Taquella White arrived early Thursday morning in West Palm Beach to take part in the event. Diaz is a community account representative. White is a customer experience specialist. Both have family members that proudly served in the military. They said giving back to veterans and honoring the American flag is one way to celebrate their legacy.
“I’m from New York. I was in New York at the time. I know many people who were impacted by 9/11,” Diaz said. “It’s nice to volunteer here. This is a way to show that we care.“
“Doing anything red, white, and blue makes me feel closer to him,” White said. “It’s good for us to be here together and reflect on a day like 9/11 that was hard for everybody. Creating these keepsakes and showing our appreciation is powerful.”
Grommet keepsakes are an extension of the company’s Operation Old Glory. The project was created to help Comcast Flag Ambassadors form lasting connections with the people and communities whose flags they respectfully replace year-round.
In total, more than 110 employees created over 270 keepsakes during the events, using grommets obtained from retired American flags. These keepsakes will be gifted to individuals whose flags Comcast employees have replaced in Florida.
Tammy Dunlop-Lyon is a Sr. Director of Human Resources for Comcast. She attended one of the events to pay tribute to the flag and what it represents. Dunlop-Lyon is a military veteran that served in the Army National Guard and the daughter of a retired Army Command Sergeant Major who served in Black Hawk Down.
“This day holds profound meaning. It is a time to honor the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of all who have served and to remember that freedom is never free,” Dunlop-Lyon said. “The Grommet Keepsake event is a meaningful way to carry forward the legacy of those who gave everything, and those who continue to serve.”
These events are more than just volunteer gatherings. They’re moments of reflection and connection. Employees from all backgrounds, many with military ties, shared stories and bonded over a shared mission to honor those who serve.
Among the volunteers in Jacksonville was Christopher Munro who recently rejoined Comcast as an enterprise sales manager. Munro shared why he decided to participate in the event, emphasizing the importance of recognizing our veterans and the deeper meaning behind Operation Old Glory.
“I’ve always been patriotic but after living in military towns like Pensacola and now Jacksonville, seeing firsthand the sacrifices that our servicemen and women make every day, drives me to give back to organizations that pay homage to those commitments.” Munro said.
From Cutler Bay all the way up to Jacksonville in Duval County, the spirit behind Operation Old Glory and the Grommet Keepsakes initiative continues to grow. Launched in 2017, Operation Old Glory empowers employees to replace worn or damaged flags at homes and businesses across Florida free of charge, regardless of whether the property owner is a Comcast customer.
Carlos Botero, who leads Human Resources for Comcast’s Florida Region, praised the incredible engagement employees showed during this day of remembrance and reflection across the state.
“This initiative is a perfect example of what happens when employees come together with purpose. Team UP events like this reflect the very best of our united culture at Comcast,” Botero said. “It’s amazing to see more and more people get involved every year connecting with both customers and non-customers in such a meaningful way. A special thank you to our employees who volunteered to create this opportunity for our teams.”
To learn more about Operation Old Glory, click HERE and to request a flag replacement, please email CENFLR-Vet_Net@comcast.com. Flags provided through Operation Old Glory are made in America and supplied by
a veteran-owned business.