Grayslake man's wooden flags inspire charity
Bill Byrne remembers when punishment handed down by his mother, Connie Larson, meant sanding down a table or helping to distress furniture that she sold in her craft and antique shop.
Byrne hated the work.
His attitude about woodworking has changed dramatically since then, as he now makes wooden pieces as a hobby, including furniture such as tables and cabinets and various flags.
"I never thought those skills would apply to a hobby," Byrne said.
The flags vary from one featuring the University of Kentucky logo to a Chicago flag featuring an outline of the city skyline along the bottom and an American flag featuring hand-painted stars.
Recently, the Grayslake resident discovered these flags could serve another purpose - raising money for those who help protect this country.
Byrne recently auctioned off a 4-foot American flag made of cedar. He will donate all the money to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
Selling his pieces at craft shows, Byrne said this flag would go for $145. Instead, he staged the auction on his Facebook page, William Patrick Customs, and the police flag received more than 6,000 views. When the auction ended May 30, the flag was sold for $400.
Making the flag, he said, was simply an outlet he found to try and give back.
"You see other people do good things and you want to do them yourself," he said. "You think about all the bad things in your life everyday. What makes people happy changes by the person. I find happiness in trying to find a way to do something for someone else."
Byrne said his desire to help others came from his grandfather, his namesake, William Byrne. He volunteered 45 years at a soup kitchen.
"I wish I could do more," he said. "I'm going to try to give some of my heart away."
Byrne said it is one thing to ask someone to give money to a great cause. But giving someone this handcrafted flag also creates a conversation.
Earlier this year, Byrne designed a flag to raise money to a charity for fallen firefighters. It was inspired by a friend who is a firefighter. The red flag, which featured a firefighter crest in its center, was auctioned on his Facebook page for $150.
"I wanted to make one and see the response I would get," he said.
When Byrne later saw an image online showing a darkened American flag except for a thin blue stripe - a symbol of mourning for police officers - he knew he wanted to replicate that design, too.
"I knew I could make that look cool out of wood. But am I going to sell that flag that represents fallen police officers and profit myself? No, I'm going to make that flag and donate the money," he said.
Byrne said people do not fully appreciate how much those who choose a career as a firefighter or law enforcement officer do. He considers making the flag and raising money something small he can do.
"I wish the scale could be bigger. I'm only in a position to do what I can do. Maybe it's selfish to say, but it makes me feel good that I'm doing something," he said.
Byrne is not done using woodworking to help others. He has donated a Chicago flag he made, which will be auctioned off at a fundraiser June 13 at Crossroads Restaurant and Bar in Mundelein to benefit the American Cancer Society.
And, hearing from police officers and firefighters who expressed interest in owning a similar flag, he plans to make more. Byrne said he will continue to give the funds to help organizations that help fallen firefighters and law enforcement officers.
His hope is to inspire people to help others. And he's doing it, thanks to the people in his life who inspired him.
"If it wasn't for my mom teaching me these techniques when I was grounded and the type of people my grandfathers were, I would not be doing these efforts," he said. "I'm just trying to help people out."