A Promise Written Into Their Name
Some companies choose a name that sounds good. Guarantee Electrical earned theirs.
In 1902, seven St. Louis entrepreneurs, William Koeneman, Ed Koeneman, John Casey, Charles J. Briner, Fred E. Briner, William Nolker and Louis Nolker, formed a partnership with one important job: guarantee that the lights of the 1904 World’s Fair would stay on throughout the exposition.
That fair was held in Forest Park, on the same grounds where Art Hill stands today. More than 120 years later, Guarantee Electrical’s commitment to this park, this city and the people who call it home has never wavered.
From the Fair to the Field
A great deal has changed since 1902. Guarantee Electrical has grown into one of the largest electrical contractors in the country, generating more than $400 million in annual revenue. Its headquarters has stood on Bent Avenue in St. Louis since 1982, and its remarkable body of work includes Grant’s Farm, an Emerson Electric aircraft turret plant, McDonnell Aircraft’s Gemini program, Six Flags Over Mid-America, Mercantile Tower and airport concourses across the country.
In 2023, Guarantee Electrical transitioned to 100% employee ownership. That means the people helping bring this year’s memorial to life are also invested in the company carrying the promise forward.
What has not changed is the instinct behind the name: when something matters, guarantee it gets done right.
Where Every Flag Began
Long before thousands of flags are placed across Art Hill, each one must be carefully assembled and prepared. Guarantee Electrical hosted every Flags of Valor flag assembly, providing not only the space but also an environment worthy of the work taking place within it.
The company built The Patriot Room at its headquarters, transforming it into a beautiful and meaningful home for the assembly process. American flags filled the space, while photographs from previous Flags of Valor memorials lined the room and reminded volunteers of what their work would soon become.
Surrounded by images of past memorials, volunteers attached the dog tags and photographs that make each flag a deeply personal tribute. The room was more than an assembly site. It was a place where stories were honored, connections were made and the promise to remember began taking physical form.
Every flag that will stand on Art Hill first passed through the hands of volunteers inside The Patriot Room.
Moving Thousands of Flags with Care
As a founding sponsor and a 2026 Stars & Stripes Sponsor, Guarantee Electrical has stood beside Flags of Valor from the very beginning. This year, its generous in-kind support also includes facilities, storage and transportation for the flags, three essential parts of the memorial that few visitors will ever see but every visitor will experience.
Moving thousands of full-size American flags is a remarkable logistical undertaking. Each flag must be handled with care because each one represents a person, a family and a story.
Guarantee Electrical’s team helps carry that responsibility from assembly and preparation through transportation, installation and removal. Their support ensures that when volunteers arrive on Installation Day, the flags and materials they need are exactly where they need to be.
A Founding Partner, Twenty-Five Years Later
Guarantee Electrical’s continued partnership is especially meaningful as Flags of Valor commemorates the 25th anniversary of September 11.
From September 5 through 13, Art Hill will offer the community a place to reflect on the lives lost, honor those who answered the call and show Gold Star Families that their loved ones remain remembered.
It is not lost on us that a company founded to guarantee the lights stayed on for a celebration in Forest Park is, more than a century later, helping guarantee that a memorial in that same park rises with dignity, care and purpose.
From The Patriot Room to Art Hill, Guarantee Electrical has helped carry every flag and every story forward.
Thank You, Guarantee Electrical
Thank you to the employee-owners of Guarantee Electrical for opening your doors, hosting every flag assembly and providing the facilities, transportation and hands-on support needed to bring Flags of Valor to life.
Your partnership has powered this promise from the very beginning. Twenty-five years later, you continue to help ensure that every hero is honored and every sacrifice is remembered.
Learn more about the 2026 memorial at www.flagsofvalorstl.com.
