California county allows Camping World store to keep flying American flag

FRENCH CAMP, Calif. (TND) — The California county that took issue with a Camping World store’s 130-foot-tall flagpole decided Thursday to allow the pole and the flag to stay up.

San Joaquin County told The National Desk (TND) that day its Code Enforcement Division was discussing the pole with the French Camp location after becoming concerned about its foundation.

The store installed it without a permit or official approval, according to the county. The county says its community development administrators reviewed plans after Camping World submitted an application, determining later that day the pole was fine to stay.

County officials noted they were concerned with how close the pole is to Interstate 5. The store sits off an exit to the freeway.

Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis told local outlet KTXL that there were no safety issues with the structure.

“If we felt like we were putting people in danger or causing any issues with air traffic, which would absolutely not be okay, then I wouldn’t do it,” he said.

Lemonis also wanted to keep flying the store’s American flag, adding that if the banner was just a Camping World advertisement, he wouldn’t have issued an order to keep it up, according to KTXL.

“It’s symbolism about how we feel about this country. We have a lot of veterans who work for us, and a lot of veterans who shop with us,” he said.

San JoaquinCounty told TND that it never asked the store to take down the flag, noting its issue has been solely with the height of the pole.

Lemonis associated the structure with the family business he said he was a part of in his childhood, telling KTXL that large flagpoles have been in his life since he immigrated to the U.S.

“I was given the blessing of being able to enter this country and become a citizen, and I’m grateful for it. It’s been part of my life since I was a little child down in Miami, Florida where we had the largest flag pole in Miami at our car dealership,” he said.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.