The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Sometimes what happens nationally affects what happens locally.

David and Angie Brown have been selling flags for nearly 30 years and this past month has been one of the busiest for them for their stand at the intersection of Highways 87 and 12 in Deweyville.

"Last month we sold 18,000 to 20,000 flags," David said. "We had 5,000 Confederate flags and sold out in 45 minutes."

He also said all of his flags- U.S., Texas, and military flags have been selling well in addition to the Confederate flags. He has an additional 10,000 flags on order.

It made national news when the Confederate flag was taken down at the South Carolina Capitol building earlier this month.

"It's about our heritage and Southern pride," he said. "We treat everyone right. We welcome all- the Black Panthers, KKK because we're all under one God, but if they want to preach, they can leave. If they want to shop and buy, that's okay.

There's no hate behind the Confederate flag. A lot of people lost their lives (in the Civil War)."

David said he has had visitors from Poland, Montana, Alaska, Washington and from all over the world to come into his store.

The Browns say their stand is a family owned and operated business. While David sells the flags, Angie makes and sells homemade jellies and jams, pickles, pickled okras and peppers, butters, honey and syrups. Their son sells woodcrafts he makes.

Selling the military flags helps the business when the produce side is down, according to David.

"I've been selling flags for 30 years. I had three flags and five bandanas when I started off. My daddy was here for several years (at Highways 87 and 12). I've been here for 28 years," he said.

Prior to landing at their present location, David sold flags at the beach as a side job from Sabine Pass down to South Padre Island. He sold watermelons too.

David was working at the plants but he broke his neck and no longer work there. Doctors told him it would take him four years to walk again but he proved them wrong.

His parents made jellies before Angie did in the 1980s. They told David and Angie they also could make it there and Ms. Angie's Homemade Jelly, Jam & Fresh Produce was born.

They own a 120-acre farm and carved out a little piece of heaven for themselves. Before they moved to Deweyville four years ago, they lived in Orange in The Cove for 26 years. She also had a vegetable garden there.

She got her start canning more than two decades ago. Both of her grandmothers canned and she began experimenting with some of their recipes.

"It has worked out perfectly," David said. "It all works out."

All and all, David said their stand is "just a small country store."

"I had a 90 year old man tell me we were all slaves back then. We all did stuff we didn't want to do," he said.

Their hours are 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.