It may not be the standard Fourth of July preparations, but two Department of Transportation workers make sure that the U.S. flag proudly flies over the Brooklyn Bridge. NY1's Cheryl Wills filed the following report.

For nearly a decade, Department of Transportation workers Cesar Pazmino and Vlatko Zic have been climbing to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge to make sure the flags at the top of the bridge's towers remain flawless symbols of freedom.

"We make sure the flags are clean and bright before any holiday," says Pazmino. "If they are ripped, tattered, or faded in any way the flags must be changed."

The two men also lower the flags to half-staff when a city police officer or firefighter dies in the line of duty.

"We put on the harness, we make a couple of phone calls to make sure that everybody is aware of the fact that we are climbing the bridge," says Pazmino. "Even before 9/11, you have to let them know that you are climbing the bridge, that you're not a jumper.

"We put our flags in the backpack. We walk up the cables, the main suspension cable and when we get up to the top we lower the flag, making sure that it doesn't hit the ground," continues Pazmino. "Then we unscrew or unbolt it from the ropes, put a new flag on it, bolt it up, raise it back up and enjoy the beauty of a brand new flag."

With the flag poles standing nearly 300 feet above the East River, one might think the sheer height would be the most difficult obstacle the men face. But there are airborne hazards, too.

"Yeah, we have hawks, yeah. So they come down and when you invade the territory and they got chicks they attack," says Pazmino. "They attack in the sense of trying to scare you away. They don't attack you to harm you, just to scare you."

"We have a regular understanding. We don't bother them, they don't bother us," says Zic.

The Brooklyn Bridge is the only city crossing flying Old Glory, something the men think sets it apart from any other structure.

"Look at it! It's majestic, isn't it?" says Pazmino.

"Without it, it would just be another bridge. That flag really does something to it and I'm really happy to be part of it," says Zic.

So next time you see the flags flying over the Brooklyn Bridge on Independence Day or any other day, think of the efforts of Cesar Pazmino and Vlatko Zic.