For Which It Stands was commissioned by the Mayor of Itasca, Illinois, for placement in front of the flagpole outside City Hall. Its creator conceived it as two children pledging the flag. When the children were photographed, Eric, who was three, did not quite know what to do and placed his hand on his stomach, creating what the creator regarded as a happy accident. From working with children, the creator learned to let them guide the pose and to keep the parents away.