The Ultimate Sacrifice Flag FoundationMy Father Said Something I Never Forgot
When Tony Wood was a young boy, his father told him something quiet and true: "When everyone who knows you dies, after you pass it will be as if you were never born."
Tony made peace with that for himself. But for those who gave their lives in service to others — soldiers, first responders, missionaries — it never sat right. These people didn't simply pass. They chose something. They gave something. And they deserve better than to be forgotten.
The Founding
Tony served in the United States Marine Corps as a field radio operator. He knows what the American flag means when you're carrying it somewhere hard. He knows what faith costs, and he knows what first responders give every time they put on the uniform.
In the fall of 2025, he founded The Ultimate Sacrifice Flag Foundation, purchased three acres of land in Evington, Virginia, and began clearing it. The permits are in hand. The vision is clear.
A 250-foot flagpole — walls ¾ of an inch thick, base 7 feet across, weighing over 100,000 pounds — will rise from this land. Three flags, each the size of a basketball court, each weighing 150 pounds, will fly in honor of three distinct communities of sacrifice: the military, first responders, and Christian missionaries. They will rotate on a single pole — raised one at a time, each given its full moment.
What We Believe
Most people believe sacrifice should be honored. We believe it should be impossible to ignore.
We believe a mother who lost her son in combat deserves a place she can bring her grandchildren and say — he mattered. We believe a family whose loved one ran into a burning building and never came home deserves more than a moment of silence once a year. We believe missionaries who died carrying hope into forgotten corners of the world deserve a flag flying in their honor.
That is what we are building.
Our Location & Legacy
5766 Wards Road, Evington, VA 24550
Evington sits in the heart of central Virginia — a short drive from Bedford, home to the National D-Day Memorial, and the Bedford Boys Tribute Center, where the nation's highest per-capita D-Day loss is honored. This region already understands the price of freedom. We are honored to be rooted here.
The Memorial Grounds
Three independent outdoor memorials will be established — one for fallen military, one for fallen first responders, and one for Christian missionaries who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Each memorial will allow families to honor their loved ones by name. We are also developing custom digital QR tribute tags — permanently placed markers that, when scanned, connect visitors to personal photos, videos, and an obituary written in honor of the individual. (Learn more about tribute placement by contacting us directly.)
We are actively working through the spacing and design of each memorial to ensure each community receives its own dedicated, dignified space.
Our Team
Hannah Thompson
Operations Manager
Tony's daughter. B.A. in Business Management from Longwood University. Hannah provides the organizational backbone that turns a vision into a funded, functioning nonprofit.
Founder
Tony Wood
Marine Corps veteran. Field radio operator. Master's degree in Organizational Management from Arizona State University. Tony has spent his life in service — to his country, his faith, and his community. This foundation is the convergence of all three.
Our Community Partners
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250 ft Flagpole height
10.21 7:00-8:00PM
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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60 × 100 ft Flag dimensions
10.21 7:00-8:00PM
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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150 lbs Weight of each flag
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100,000+ lbs Weight of the steel pole
10.21 7:00-8:00PM
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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100+ People needed to install
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Flagpole Base is 7 feet in diameter.
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The steel walls are ¾ of an inch thick.
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We'd love to hear from you.
Whether you want to make a donation, ask about corporate sponsorship, honor a loved one in the memorial, or simply learn more about what we're building — reach out. This foundation runs on connection.