Shop owner recognized for display of “prayer flag”

By Miranda Baines

Published: August 13, 2008

Ride by Elree’s Sweet Shoppe at 9 a.m. or 5 p.m. and you might see bakery owner Michael Kingston waving an American flag and praying.

Army Master Sgt. Bill Martin Jr. stopped by Elree’s recently while visiting his hometown of Eden.

“He prays for all the soldiers that are in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Martin said. He said it’s clear that Kingston doesn’t pray for show. As he prays, he ignores those around him, all the while waving the flag.

“It goes beyond words that a person who didn’t serve but wanted to would reach out like that unashamedly. It just really touched me,” said Martin. “He’s got a burning zeal to pray for these women and men that he doesn’t even know.”

Feeling compelled to do something special for Kingston, Martin, who works for the White House Communications Agency, presented him with a glass case containing a folded flag. The flag flew over the presidential retreat at Camp David.

“He just broke down when we gave it to him, so I think it meant a lot,” Martin said. Kingston teared up as he thought about the gift.

“He just blessed my heart; he really did,” the bakery shop owner said.

Kingston tries to have every service member and veteran who visits his shop at 323B E. Meadow Road sign the flag. He estimated 100 names on the current flag, the third he has filled with the signatures of soldiers and veterans.

He said the soldiers are honored to sign the “prayer flag.”

“I wasn’t able to serve, so this is my way of serving my country - praying for my country and my soldiers,” Kingston said. “Our freedom is not free. People have died for it.”

Kingston wanted to serve in the Army during Vietnam but failed the physical. He later tried to join the Navy but could not. He was so determined to serve, however, that, at 40, he tried to join the Army during the Gulf War. By then he was too old. But Kingston has found other ways to show his patriotism. Martin said he epitomizes everything Army stands for - service, loyalty and dedication.

In the morning, when he displays the flag, Kingston prays for the country’s troops, president and leaders. At the end of the day, he thanks God for getting the American troops through another day of war. Kingston and his wife, Gina Carter-Kingston, have seen plenty of servicemen come through the doors of their bakery.

As a token of their appreciation, Kingston and his wife give an oatmeal cookie to every soldier and veteran who visits. In May 2003, Elree’s sent 36 cookies to the White House in support of the troops.

“We had a little fellow come in from the National Guard last week. He was 19 years old,” said Carter-Kingston. “They’re kids to us, but they got enough backbone and pride about them to want to defend their country. My heart just goes out to them. I admire them for what they’re doing.”

• Staff writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.