BOISE — A lot of eyes were on Saturday’s game between Army and Navy for their annual rivalry matchup, but one Boise brewery made the game even more special when they brewed up a special way to display the American flag during the game's halftime.
Bear Island Brewing opened two weeks ago on Small Business Saturday, at former firehouse number six, off of Curtis Road and Fairview Avenue.
Dozens of people at the Bear Island Brewing came outside to watch, as the American Legion Honor Guard held a special flag raising ceremony.
Bear Island Brewing owner, Beth Bechtel says that this was their way of not only honoring veterans in the Treasure Valley. Since they didn't have a flag up, they wanted to do it the right way.
“I can’t even express the joy and the honor, honor guard is so appropriate, it's so honorable, we couldn't just put it up, it would've been wrong and that's why our flag pole has been bare for two weeks, so bear with us at Bear Island but we finally got the flag up,” Bechtel said.
Bechtel was part of the explosive ordnance disposal group 2 during her time in the navy.
Other veterans who participated in Saturday’s flag raising ceremony shared their excitement about being a part of a ceremony at a veteran-owned business.
“It's an honor to be able to do something like this for the veterans," United States Navy Lieutenant Dan Pruett said. "We spent the majority of our lives in the military and so it's our way of giving back and we enjoy every minute of it."