The College Fix

BY BRIANNA KRAEMER | CAROLINA JOURNAL

The frat boys of UNC-Chapel Hill partied with some of America’s country legends on Labor Day after a GoFundMe raised over $500,000 earlier this year for the fraternity brothers who stood against a crowd of Palestinian protestors on campus to save the American flag.

Students were bused from campus to the concert site at the American Legion of Chapel Hill, about 15 minutes away. Due to concerns about security and potential protestors, the location of the long-awaited party was not revealed until late in the day on Monday.

The night kicked off with veterans taking the stage and a military flyover. The line-up of country music stars featured Five for Fighting, Aaron Lewis, Big & Rich, Lee Greenwood, and actor and Chapel Hill alumnus Nick Searcy from the class of ‘82, who led the crowd in a university anthem. The event wrapped with fireworks overhead as Lee Greenwood sang the iconic song, “God Bless the USA.”

According to organizers, between 600 and 800 people attended the event out of 3,000 total tickets distributed, typical of a free event. While attendance may have come in below expectations, organizers were pleased with the turnout as it was a private concert specifically “for the boys.”

Students captured draped by the flag in the iconic photo from UNC campus last spring were seen at the concert, as were other organizations invited to attend, such as Back the Blue NC and the American Legion. There was a VIP area for the boys where they could play beer pong, get alcohol—limited to beer and seltzers—and eat catered food. Wings, sliders, and waitresses from Hooters were brought in to satisfy appetites, owing to the man on the far left of the famous photo wearing a Hooters shirt.

A patriotic wrap to #Flagstock for the frat bros of Chapel Hill. #ncpol #UNC @CarolinaJournal pic.twitter.com/m2lKVGHKi8

— Brianna Kraemer (@BriKraemer99) September 3, 2024

“A big thanks to all the artists, all the sound guys, the crew guys, everybody that built these stages, this stuff, a lot of it was donated. They did it on their own dime,” John Rich said on stage. “You know why? Because they know there’s only one of two choices coming up here soon. It’s communism versus freedom, and we’re going to pick freedom every single time.”

Preston Hill, a sophomore studying political science and journalism, was a bystander at the campus protests and said the photo reminds people that, above all, we’re Americans. He said students on campus were reportedly discouraging fellow students from attending the event, labeling it right-wing and conservative.

“I think that picture really should remind people that, above all, we’re Americans,” Hill said. “[Flagstock] really just represents Americanism and American values and being able to come out to an event like this and put aside your specific political leanings and just be out here to celebrate Americanism and have a good time.”

Many volunteers and vendors offered their services for free or at-cost in honor of the boys. The high-tech stage, the most expensive item at about $100,000, was provided at cost from TAG Live. The company, headquartered in New Jersey, hauled in four semi-trucks of equipment to set up the stage. Officials with the stage company said after hearing John Rich come forward and offer a free concert, they Instagrammed Rich to tell him they would build the stage if he did the show, stating it was the least they could do.

Organizers hired a private security firm to ensure the site was completely secure, making for the second largest expense at $80,000. Security stood at the entrance gate to the property and throughout the venue, as well as EMS and other safety personnel required by the county. Additional expenses included chartering 13 different 50-passenger buses to the site from campus, costing about $25,000, as well as $5 million worth of insurance.

After the fraternities settle all expense from the patriotic celebration, the fraternities have chosen charitable causes to which they would like any extra funds to go.

“I would just keep in mind that that was not what 16,000 Americans gave for,” said John Noonan, the event organizer. “They gave because they wanted these boys to have a good time and to just say thank you. I think we found the right medium.”

Noonan said that they will examine leftover funds for charitable causes in the coming weeks.

The entire concert was live-streamed on Rumble so the rest of the country could tune into the event, sparked by financial support from Americans nationwide.

MORE: $83,000+ raised for frat bros who defended Old Glory from pro-Palestinian activists

IMAGE: Carolina Journal

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