TAMPA, Fla. — A Clearwater man has found a way to spread patriotism and make his condo community a great place to live. Dale Wood, 83, makes wood flags in his garage at The Village on Island Estates. 

Wood cuts individual pieces of wood to make the stripes for the flags.

“These have to be 15 inches. This one is a little short,” he said as he cut one of the pieces.

What You Need To Know

  • Dale Wood served in the Marine Corps as a young man. 

  • Wood has made more than a dozen wood flags for his condo neighbors. 

  • He has also completed woodworking projects for members of the community.  

  • Wood hopes his flags promote patriotism.

Wood has made more than a dozen of the flags after neighbors saw his hanging on the front of their condo and they wanted one too.

“It’s the patriotic thing to do," he said. "And it gives me something to do like a hobby." 

Wood was a United States Marine as a young man and hopes the flags spur his neighbors to be patriotic.

“Well, there’s no such thing as an ex-Marine,” said Wood. “Once a Marine always a Marine. I’m a patriot and I want all my neighbors to be a patriot.

"And if they look at it and like it. And I say, 'Do you want one?' And if they say yea, I’ll build it for them.”

Wood has also used his woodworking skills to make projects for some of his neighbors including a wood planting bench.

He is also making plans to build a privacy fence around an observation deck at the community’s boat docks.

“I volunteered to buy the material and of course I’ll provide the labor,” said Wood. Wood said he is just trying to be a good neighbor.

“He is our hero at the Village on Island Estates,” said condo board president Mona Desrosiers.