Over the past several weeks, I had the privilege of introducing our Field of Honor Sponsors and sharing the many ways they helped make the 2026 Flags of Valor Memorial possible. There’s one story I’d been putting off, though – the story of my own company, The Pencil Haus Marketing + Creative.
The Pencil Haus is also a Field of Honor Sponsor, and this partnership is deeply personal to me. So instead of a traditional sponsor spotlight, I want to share the story behind my involvement and introduce you to the person behind many of the Flags of Valor emails, website updates, volunteer communications, social posts, graphics and memorabilia you may have encountered along the way.
I’m Amanda Bradham-Little, co-founder and chief creative officer of The Pencil Haus, and marketing and event director for Flags of Valor.
I’ve volunteered with Flags of Valor for seven years, but preparing for the 2026 memorial gave me the chance to get involved in a much deeper way. For the past year and a half, I worked alongside founder Rick Randall to help plan and bring this extraordinary memorial back to Art Hill for the 25th anniversary of September 11. Rick carries the history, heart and vision of Flags of Valor. My role was turning that vision into the thousands of details it takes to share it with the community and bring the memorial to life – and now that the flags have come down and the nine days on Art Hill are behind us, I find myself still catching my breath, and still counting my blessings.
The day that changed everything
My connection to September 11 began long before Flags of Valor. I was 25, working as promotions director for The Southern Illinoisan, standing in the newsroom when I watched the second plane strike the South Tower. Like so many Americans, I knew instantly I was witnessing something horrific. What I couldn’t have understood in that moment was how deeply that day would stay with me — or how it would keep shaping my life decades later.
I also couldn’t have known I’d one day form a meaningful friendship with 9/11 survivor Krista Salvatore. Knowing Krista turned an event I’d watched unfold on a newsroom television into something personal – the history of September 11 became connected to someone I knew, cared about and admired. It’s a reminder that guides my work and sponsorship with Flags of Valor today: everyone connected to September 11 carries a story worth hearing, and the impact of that day didn’t end when the coverage stopped.
The Pencil Haus behind me
I haven’t made this journey alone. I’m grateful for my Pencil Haus team – co-founders Shelli Alred and Lauren Pitlyk, along with Stephanie Eichmeyer – who have supported this work and generously given their own time, especially when the hours got long and Flags of Valor needed extra hands.
I’m also deeply grateful to Rick for trusting me with something that means so much to him, his family and thousands of other families across the country. Working beside him has shown me just how much heart, history and determination sit behind every flag placed on Art Hill.
Five gifts I’ll never forget
The first one came from Harold, a retired federal agent, during one of our flag assembly weekends – and it was huge! Then came a coin from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Tracy, who was himself a first responder on September 11, followed by one from St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson and another from Mark Dunlop. The fifth came from the Patriot Training Foundation and Greater St. Louis Honor Flight.
Challenge coins are typically small, but what they represent isn’t. They’re symbols of respect, connection and shared purpose, and I never expected to receive even one through this work – let alone four in a single week. They came from people who understand service, sacrifice and the responsibility of remembrance, and I’ll treasure each one, and the moment it was given, for the rest of my life.
THE PEOPLE OF ART HILL
Nine days on Art Hill meant nine days of meeting people I won’t forget – and leaning on people I already loved. My best friends Shanyon and Chris Carter, along with their daughter Cassady, showed up to help with set-up and stayed with us throughout the week. My other best friend, Stephanie Eichmeyer, was instrumental in the lead-up to the memorial and every single day of it. I couldn’t have done this without them.
My own family showed up too. My mom and two cousins made the trip to stand on that hill with me, and I’ll carry that memory right alongside all the others.
Thank you to Bonnie Krueger, who was instrumental in assisting with the volunteer efforts. There was Lisa Wood, a volunteer who showed up every single day without fail. There was Heather Brenna, Gold Star Mom to SPC Matthew Walker, and Michelle Dyer, Gold Star Mom to PO1 Robin Collins – women who trusted us with the weight of their children’s memories. And over the past few years, I’ve had the gift of getting to know Rick and Chris Andrews far better than I ever expected; Chris is a Gold Star Mom to Sgt. Amanda Pinson, and both of them are simply incredible humans. They printed (with love) every single volunteer shirt through their company Mandy’s Tees & More.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Beth Bruening, National Second Vice of Blue Star Mothers of America, better, and Mark Dunlop, a benefit incentives and military benefits consultant for the Department of War. Both serve the families of our service members with grace and professionalism.
No reflection on this year’s memorial would be complete without recognizing the Patriot Training Foundation, along with Keath and Megan Hauser, who truly lived on Art Hill from sunup to sundown.
Megan, owner of Visual Ingenuity, LLC, brought her marketing talents to the Hill. Some of her social media posts allowed me to focus on the task at hand. Keath, Megan and their remarkable team worked tirelessly to ensure that every American flag – and every hero represented by one – stood with the dignity and precision they deserved. Their extraordinary attention to detail, unwavering dedication and deep respect for this memorial are what set them apart.
And I have to mention Paul Carlock.
Paul is a man with a mission: to make sure we never forget. He has poured so much of himself into Flags of Valor, and he represents the future of this memorial. When Rick eventually retires – and he swears AGAIN this really was his last year – Paul will be the one to carry that mission forward.
On September 11, Paul once again participated in the March to the Arch before returning to the memorial he helped bring to life. He was on Art Hill every single day, quietly doing whatever needed to be done and making sure every hero was honored with the reverence they deserved.
I love Paul not only for his dedication, but for the extraordinary human being he is. Knowing that the future of Flags of Valor will one day rest in his hands gives me so much comfort. This memorial could not ask for a more devoted heart – or a more faithful guardian of its promise to never forget.
Lest I not mention Ed Rode, who served as our best delivery “boy” every single day – showing up with water, memorabilia, and a smile without fail. He’s a true patriot, and I count my blessings to have him in my life.
And then there were the countless other volunteers and visitors who came to honor the fallen – people whose names I may never know, but whose presence on that hill mattered just as much.
I also made a new friend in Emily Stahl, who designed one of the pieces of memorabilia we offered on Art Hill. I couldn’t resist snapping a photo of the two of us holding the magnet she created.
Two moments from that week stand out as highlights I’ll carry with me. On the morning of September 11 itself, I had the honor of meeting St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer on Art Hill. And later that morning, Krista, Ed, and I had the privilege of attending the St. Louis Board of Aldermen meeting and speaking on behalf of Flags of Valor.
Behind so many of the images you’ve seen from the memorial is a team of photographers who gave their talent so this story could be told in pictures as well as words. I got to know Ann Aurbach and Jeff Hirsch especially well, but the full photo team deserves just as much credit: Jeff Hirsch, Donna Parrone, Ryan Stanley, Bailey Elizabeth Rogers, Ann Aurbach, Kymberlieblu Birkenkamp, and Fleet Rand. Thank you all for capturing what words alone couldn’t.
THANK YOU
If we exchanged emails, if I helped you find your volunteer assignment, if you shared one of our posts, if you met me at the memorabilia or information tent, if you picked up a piece of memorabilia, or if we crossed paths somewhere on Art Hill over those nine days – thank you for being part of this. The flags may be down, but what we built together on that hill isn’t going anywhere.
