By Mary Klett, ASA Communications Team

While we might have to stretch our memories a little to imagine St. Louis in 1902, Guarantee Electrical Company (Guarantee) was founded by a group of electricians to guarantee that the lights would stay on for the 1904 World’s Fair – a new-to-the-world technology for the attendees at Forest Park.

Jump ahead 109 years and Guarantee Electrical was again an integral part in guaranteeing that Flags of Valor was realized. Rick Randall of Pace Properties is the visionary behind Flags of Valor, and wants us to “forever remember” the many who lost their lives in sacrifice to their country since September 11, 2001. On the 10th anniversary 2,977 flags were flown on Art Hill at Forest Park to remember the individuals lost on that tragic day in 2001 at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, on Flight 93 and the first responders who gave their lives to save others. Guarantee provided room to assemble the flags, the steel poles, and storage, plus people power to help make sure the flags were installed and removed appropriately, before being given to gold star families who lost their loved ones.  Yes, this is a monumental, and awe-inspiring effort, requiring: 

• A year’s worth of planning
• 21 tons of material
• 11 miles of flag rows
• 10 acres
• 15,240 rubber bands
• 3,000 feet of plastic tubing
• 7,620 ten-foot poles
• 500 selfless volunteers
• Tremendous community support and organization

Believing in being good stewards of the communities in which they operate, Guarantee is also active in many other charitable causes, including KIDstruction, raising more than $500,000 in 2021 for St. Louis Children’s hospital; and the 11th consecutive year for Pedal the Cause (Sep 25 & 26, 2021), spearheaded by a cancer survivor at the company.