England auctions off flag for over $10K
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And though he has consistently managed to raise good money at these auctions, he was totally unprepared for what happened on the last day of the convention held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It’s a story that many say was the emotional highlight of the convention, including past Exchange Club national president Ken Roberts, who, along with his wife Leda, Bill Brock and England, represented Warren County at the convention.
“It was incredible,” Ken said. “It was one of the most awesome experiences we’ve had in a long time.
It all began with England was asked to auction a couple of items at the Child Abuse Prevention breakfast. He had auctioned off a handmade quilt at the breakfast the year before in Dallas.
“A lady had made a quilt, just one item, I sold it and it brought $1,500. I left the stage, and end of story,” England said.
So this year when England was asked to auction off another quilt, made and donated by the same woman, he didn’t think much about it. But in addition to the quilt, another rather unusual item was added, a flag that had been flown in Iraq by U.S. Marine troops stationed there.
The flag had been brought home and donated to an Exchange Club in Texas which had been sponsoring the soldiers. The club then decided to place the flag in a shadow box, had a plaque made and donated it to be auctioned off at the national convention.
First up was the quilt, which brought $1,200. Then came the flag, and a series of events that changed the entire mood. As part of the flag auction, a local Marine, public relations officer Sgt. Tisha Carter, was there to represent the Marines and present the flag. England asked her to speak to the crowd, with unexpected results.
“She was telling the folks about the Marines and the good they were doing in Iraq,” England said. “Well, when she was done with her speech, she about had everybody crying.”
Originally England had been in a bit of dilemma on where to start bidding on the flag since he had no idea of its value.
“I had told Bill (Brock) earlier, ‘If we get $1,200 or $1,500 out of this flag, you know, I’ll be tickled to death,'” England said. “So I thought, if I ask for $1,000, somebody will say $200, and we’ll go from there.”
But as was soon apparent, England had underestimated the effect of the Marine’s heartfelt speech.
“So I said, who’ll give $1,000,” England said, “and a sea of hands goes up. I bet a third of them had their hands up. So I said, ‘OK, who’ll give $1,500?
“And then it was like $2,000, then $2,500, $3,000. And I just went on. Well it got to about $5,000 and it kind of stopped,” England said. At that point, Sgt. Carter asked for the microphone again.
“So she’s saying something else and as she’s talking, these big tears start rolling down her face,” England recalled. “And I said, ‘Sgt. Carter, I know you’re a Marine and you’re trying to stay at attention and hold it back, but today, you can just be one of us.’ Well, then it was whoosh! Just a flood of tears.
“And it took off again, bang, bang, bang,” England said. “And I’m thinking, ‘Am I going to get to $7,500?’ Well, I got to $7,500. Well there’s this couple on my right bidding, and there’s this couple on my left bidding. They’re having this little bidding war.”
At this point, one couple was about to drop out, but amazingly, people from the audience began bringing up cash to add to their bids.
“Finally it got to about $9,500,” England said. “And I said, ‘Would you give $9,600? And they gave $9,600. Then I went to Gerald, Gerald Franklin, the man that bought it, and I said, ‘Gerald, make it $10,000.’ And he gave me a big thumbs up. And I said, ‘Ten thousand dollars!’ Man, the crowd went wild. And the other couple said, ‘We’re done.’
“I was so excited and people were already clapping, and I said, ‘Going once, going twice, sold to Gerald and Evelyn Franklin for $10,000.'”
At this point, pandemonium reigned.
“Man, people jumped up, ran toward the stage. People were taking pictures,” England said. “And I’m standing up there on stage, to be honest with you, just shocked. Then Bill Brock comes up and says, ‘Randy, I’ve got all this money. Those people gave it to me, said it’s not their money.'”
After counting it, England discovered there was another $700.
“So I said, ‘Wait a minute, we didn’t just get $10,000, with all the money people brought up we’ve got $10,700.’ And they just started all over again, just going wild,” England said.
England said it’s something he is proud to have been a part of and will never forget.
“When I left that building,” he said. “I felt like I was walking on air. It’s the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me.”
PHOTO INFO:
Local auctioneer Randy England poses with the American flag he auctioned off for an amazing $10,700 during the Exchange Club National Convention at Salt Lake City, Utah in July. Pictured are, from left, Gerald Franklin, Marine Sgt. Tisha Carter, England and Evelyn Franklin. The Franklins purchased the flag, which had been flown in Irag by U.S. Marine troops. (Photo provided)