ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) -  As the nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, one resident is paying tribute to the country in a way that can be seen from the street outside his home.

Retired veteran Bob Turner recently transformed his garage door into a mural of the American flag, painting it with Old Glory blue, 50 white stars, seven red stripes and six white stripes. The display is featured at his home on Polhemus Drive, located near Old Town Elk Grove, where he has lived for the past 42 years.

The project is a re-creation of a flag mural Turner painted on the garage door of his former home in Troy, Ohio, for the United States Bicentennial back in 1976. Almost 50 years later, he revisited the idea as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial celebration on July 4.

“I figured, hey, I did it back then at 200,” Turner said, explaining his decision to paint the garage door again for the country’s 250th anniversary.

Turner said his appreciation for the United States stems in part from his military service. He served four years on active duty in the Air Force before the Vietnam War escalated and later served in the Air Force Reserve.

The inspiration behind the project, he said, was simple.

“Freedom.”

He said his appreciation for the nation was further strengthened through his travels overseas during his military service, including trips to South Korea and Honduras.

“There’s no place like the USA,” he added.

Turner began work on the project in May with help from his daughter Jennifer Turner and her partner. Together, they spent nearly 60 hours completing the mural.

 

Bob Turner re-created the American flag mural he painted at his Ohio home for the nation’s Bicentennial in 1975, left. He and his daughter, Jennifer Turner, are pictured again in 2026, right, in front of the newly painted mural at his Elk Grove home. Courtesy photo

Recreating the flag presented challenges that differed from those he encountered nearly five decades ago. Unlike the solid wood garage door at his Ohio home, Turner’s current garage door is metal and includes a row of glass panels across the top.

After contacting the manufacturer, Turner learned the windows could not be removed and reinstalled because of the door’s age. Instead, he cut pieces of cardboard to cover the glass and carefully masked them before painting.

Although the finished mural spans the entire garage door, Turner said he has no professional experience as a painter or muralist. The only mural he had ever painted was the original American flag tribute at his Ohio home.

Rather than relying on artistic training, Turner measured the garage door and researched proper flag proportions online before beginning the project.

“The expression is ‘I can’t draw a straight line,’ you know?” he joked.

When asked what motivated him to re-create the mural at his Elk Grove home, Turner pointed to the milestone anniversary.

“That’s what I wanted to do. It’s the 250th year of our great country.”

His patriotism extends beyond the flag mural. Turner explained he spent 30 years working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and, after retirement, continued serving the community through volunteer work at the Elk Grove Senior Center, with the Elk Grove Police Department and at the local food bank.

An American flag is painted on the garage door of Bob Turner’s residence, located on Polhemus Drive near Old Town Elk Grove. Photo by Idaly Valencia

Turner said honoring and expressing appreciation for his country has always been important to him.

“When we’ve had family get-togethers … we always went around the room and said, ‘What are you thankful for?’ And my answer was always, ‘I was glad I was born in the United States,’” Turner said.

He encourages community members and neighbors to stroll or stop by to view his artwork located at 9585 Polhemus Drive.