Grant family celebrates the Fourth in a big way

by Shari Friedel

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

The patriotism of Grant resident Mike Morlang and his family is apparent, with their front lawn featuring a large, to-scale, painted American flag.

Passersby have been impressed with the image that covers the entire front yard.

Morlang’s family includes wife Nicole, and children Ashlyn, 5, Ronan, 3 and eight-month-old Colin. 

With the children all having birthdays close to a holiday—Easter, Independence Day and Halloween—the family enjoys celebrating by decorating their house and yard. As Morlang is a veteran, the Fourth is one of his favorites.

Morlang said it’s his way of teaching the children the meaning of holidays.

This is the second year the yard has had an American Flag image for the Fourth.

The first step in the three-day project is to calculate the exact measurements of a flag and map it out. Second, and most time-consuming, is staking out the design. Mike involved his older children, Ashlyn and Ronan, in the process of staking and stringing the guidelines. 

To paint the stars and stripes, Morlang used chalk paint which he said is specifically intended for grass. It is weather-proof, which will allow the design to last for several weeks. Eighteen cans were ordered, and as of Monday, there was only a little of each color left for touching up on the Fourth.