Beaufort County veteran mows the American flag into his front yard. See it this week

Preston Gauntt, of Shell Point, admits he had a few drinks when, on a whim, he decided to mow an American flag into his front yard after getting off work a little early Friday.

“So I “Merica” my yard yesterday,” Gauntt said in a Facebook message to the Island Packet.

The flag yard is on display the week of Fourth of July at 3005 Shell Point Road, Beaufort.

Drinks didn’t stop Gauntt from cutting what appears to be nearly perfect straight lines for the flag. He used stakes to create 30-inch wide stripes and calculated the size of the mower to get the right look.

“I saved myself from cutting half the yard,” Gauntt joked Sunday.

Gauntt spent several years working in the landscaping business after serving in the Navy for four years and Marine Corps for eight years.

“I’m a self-proclaimed master on the subject matter of cutting grass,” Gauntt said. “I’m about ready to go cut my neighbor’s yard for free because I enjoy doing it.”

This story was originally published June 30, 2019 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Beaufort County veteran mows the American flag into his front yard. See it this week."