Ohio veterans hall draws flak over flag

NEWTON FALLS: An Ohio veterans hall is drawing criticism from other veterans for flying its flag at half-staff every day, in honor of U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Medina County Dog]

God bless you, Newton Falls. I think it's proper that a VFW fly it's flag at half staff for fallen vets. I can't think of anything more appropriate. While these wars are part of the background for most of America, they are real, intense and everyday for veterans and families of vets. Fly it at half staff til all the troops are home.

[Class of 68]

While I can sympathize with the thought behind Mr. Cameron's actions, what this VFW is doing is against our country's rules that dictate who can decide such things and when they are to occur. Those rules state that:

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
Days the American flag should be flown at half-staff:

May 15th – Peace Officers Memorial Day
Last Monday in May - Memorial Day (half-staff until noon only, then raise to the top of the staff)
July 27th – Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
September 11th – Patriot Day
December 7th – Pearl Harbor Day
By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of the State, territory or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory.
In the event of the death of other officials of foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to presidential instructions of orders, or in accordance with recognized customs practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.
Flags flown on poles affixed to a home or building are not to be flown at half staff but a memorial streamer can be affixed to the top of the flagpole to signify half staff.

[common sense]

Listen to what Class of 68 has to say (type). He is right. I, nor you, can determine when to fly your flag at half staff. The VFW is wrong.(As an American Legion member, I can empathize with them, but they must follow the rules). Put the flag back up, Newton Falls VFW!

[Leatherneck]

There are many ways to memoralize these fallen soldiers and to grieve with their families. I pray for them and all who are still serving our country. But to make your own "stipulation" to an existing rule, does not follow what these Veterans were taught. The VFW should know better.

[Ahau Kin]

We have a way to memorialize fallen soldiers. It's called 'Memorial Day'.

[The Real Deal]

Let's face it. This is a political statement and not a show of respecting the dead. While I have problems with this war, I have no respect for people who hide their political agendas behind false shows of sympathy for the dead and their greiving families. Newton Falls VFW ought to be ashamed for mocking and manipulating the feeling of the bereaved.

How low can they stoop?

[Robin Anderson]

Well, folks...just who the heck were "the rules" made by, eh? Further, who, if not our current generation, has a right to modify/change same rules?

Our Country has an active, world wide conflict going on in which our Servicefolks are expected to sacrifice their lives! Our Commander-in-Chief has deemed it "politically expedient" that there be no news reports of flag-draped coffins being returned to our Shores...go figure!

I, for one, do not care to wait 20 years down the road to honor those who, for whatever reason, have deemed it necessary to give their lives in defense of our Country, whether I agree 100% with the current government or not!

So, please, don't try to tell me that it's in any way appropriate to fly our Nation's Flag at half-staff for a mere politician and not in recognition of our current deceased Armed Forces Servicepeople...our Nation's Veterans!

Please save the "flying a flag at half-staff on Memorial Day" mentality for a time when my Commarades-in-Arms aren't dying on foreign shores.

[just a suggestion]

Those that cite the rules of flying the flag at 1/2 staff are correct..unfortunately....:(

Maybe they could fly a plain black flag. The symbolism will be there and publicity will allow everyone to know it's meaning.

[richard]

don't people have better things to worry about? Jeez, let's call the flag police!!

[Scooter Moonpie]

Flag protocol is written to honor our country, our people, and our soldiers. The AL expends much time and effort trying to educate people on proper flag displaying et. al. I'm sure the VFW does as well.

It's a tad paradoxical that one VFW post would disregard hard and fast rules to make a statement.

[concerned citizen]

are these "rules" or laws? laws, I have to obey; rules? depends upon who is making them. who does make these rules and to what extent are they binding or advisory?

[CitizenCan]

concerned citizen wrote:

are these "rules" or laws? laws, I have to obey; rules? depends upon who is making them. who does make these rules and to what extent are they binding or advisory?

It is Flag protocol,plain and simple.The VFW was very much involved with the protocol's begining(read the facts,then comment).They know its wrong but,the powers to be at the local post,have a hidden agenda and it is obvious to many.Plain and simple,if you do not follow the Flag Code,you are disrespecting the flag.End of debate!

[Question Authority]

Given the state of this country in many aspects, it should be flown upside down.

[CitizenCan]

Question Authority wrote:

Given the state of this country in many aspects, it should be flown upside down.

Hey Question Authority;You don't have your facts on the state of our nation straight.If it was time to fly the flag (upsidedown)in a "Send Help Distress" manner,things would be so bad,you would already be without the electricity to operate your keyboard.You would be ducking for cover and looking for food.We are FAR from that.Do yourself a little favor and think about what your doing this 4th weekend..Are we under attack?Life is still good here and the flag should be at it's Highest level.You are free to question authority.That is your right.You are not free to alter the facts!

[CitizenCan]

The Pope wrote:

<quoted text>
"At the VFW in Newton Falls, post Commander Ray Hanzes says it's a tribute to Americans who paid the supreme sacrifice and whose family and friends typically mourn alone." So where is a political statement being made? How do you draw that inference? Maybe this will be a catalyst for the rules to be changed with regard to flags at half-mast. Recently the Mayor of Buffalo flew the Town Hall Flag at half mast in honor of Tim Russert, a media correspondent. Commander Ray Hanzes might be ignoring prevailing "rules", but in the face of dead young men returning in boxes, who really cares? I salute Hanzes for bucking traditional military protocol. The old adage in the armed forces is: "There's a right way, a wrong way, and the military way." This is the right way, be damned with the military way.

Flag Protocol is not a Military issue!It is our Nation's issue.It is what it is and to go against it,is nothing less then a disrespectful act towards it.If the flag is always flying at half staff,how will we signify the dead when it is time to lower it?

[Question Authority]

CitizenCan wrote:

<quoted text>Hey Question Authority;You don't have your facts on the state of our nation straight.If it was time to fly the flag (upsidedown)in a "Send Help Distress" manner,things would be so bad,you would already be without the electricity to operate your keyboard.You would be ducking for cover and looking for food.We are FAR from that.Do yourself a little favor and think about what your doing this 4th weekend..Are we under attack?Life is still good here and the flag should be at it's Highest level.You are free to question authority.That is your right.You are not free to alter the facts!

Everyone has their own definition of distress. I can't begin to fathom how anyone can think things are "still good here".

Our manufacturing base is decimated, we import darn near everything we need to exist, we send out soldiers to wars without the best equipment available ( but we will let their relatives buy the stuff for them ), we continue to be dependent on Middle Eastern oil after they brought us to our knees 35 years ago and we've TWICE elected a reformed drunk who failed at every business venture he undertook. I've got more but I'm not going to waste more the time trying to explain the obvious to you.

How can you say things are "still good"?

[CitizenCan]

Question Authority wrote:

<quoted text>
Everyone has their own definition of distress. I can't begin to fathom how anyone can think things are "still good here".
Our manufacturing base is decimated, we import darn near everything we need to exist, we send out soldiers to wars without the best equipment available ( but we will let their relatives buy the stuff for them ), we continue to be dependent on Middle Eastern oil after they brought us to our knees 35 years ago and we've TWICE elected a reformed drunk who failed at every business venture he undertook. I've got more but I'm not going to waste more the time trying to explain the obvious to you.
How can you say things are "still good"?

Simply;"You are still able to Freely voice your opinion fom the comfort of your home".Now,how bad is it?

[Question Authority]

CitizenCan wrote:

<quoted text>Simply;"You are still able to Freely voice your opinion fom the comfort of your home".Now,how bad is it?

Again, everyone has their own definition of distress. You have yours and I have mine.

Just because I am sitting at home in comfort doesn't mean the entire country is not in distress in some way. This type of thought process, "As long as things are okay with me, we don't have a problem", is a large part of the problem for this country.

Enjoy your "comfort" while you have it, I am as well. LOL!

[jason]

we are talking about veterans. you know, the men and women who risked their lives to ensure our freedoms. i don't care what the laws are, if the veterans want to dance naked on the flag while guzzling a bottle of whiskey and smoking fat cigars to honor their fallen heroes, they've earned that right. and i thank each of them for it.

[CitizenCan]

jason wrote:

we are talking about veterans. you know, the men and women who risked their lives to ensure our freedoms. i don't care what the laws are, if the veterans want to dance naked on the flag while guzzling a bottle of whiskey and smoking fat cigars to honor their fallen heroes, they've earned that right. and i thank each of them for it.

You sound like you are hitting the Jug!Best read the Oh Revised Criminal Code...It is a Class 2 Mis in the state of Ohio to "Dance on the Flag"..You miss the entire point of the issue.