GREEN BAY, Wis.  –– A Manitowoc teenager donated metal American flags to the Green Bay Metro Fire Department and Police Department Wednesday.

Justis Henderson started making metal art with his father in their garage when he was 10 years old. What was a hobby turned into a business.

He’s 17 now and just branched off of his dad’s business, Metal Art of Wisconsin, to start his own metal art company - Flags by Justis.

“I feel like I fulfilled his dream, that’s for sure, and definitely making him proud is all I care about, really,” Henderson.

“Apple of my eye,” said his father Shane when asked how proud he was of his son.

Henderson wanted his first act as a business owner to be one of giving. He decided the first flags he’d make he would donate to local first responders in the Wisconsin area.

Green Bay Fire Chief David Litton said the gesture will lift spirits.

“I can tell you it made my day,” Litton said. “I’m going to guess that once everybody gets an opportunity to see it in the department that they’ll have a sincere appreciation for it.”

Interim Police Chief Jim Runge said the same.

“When that message disseminates down to the men and women on the street it validates to all of us that we’re doing the right thing,” Runge said.

Henderson said the flags are a small way to show love to those who put their lives on the line each day.

“I did it because I just have a lot of respect for first responders… because they do all the work that you don’t want to do,” he said.

He plans to donate more metal flags in to other departments in the weeks to come.