Flag displays bring respectful obligations
To the editor:
Recently there has been a discussion about American flags being put in the right-of-way in Cape Coral. While I am certainly not questioning the flag owner’s patriotism, I do wonder what responsibility he is taking to show proper respect for the flags after he’s displayed them.
1. Does he bring the flags inside at dusk? If not, does he provide a spotlight shining on them?
2. Does he bring the flags inside if it rains?
3. If the wind blows down a flag, does he just pick it up and stick it back in the ground? Or does he properly dispose of it by burning, or fold and take to an American Legion post for proper disposal?
4. Does he move the flags so that city ground crews may mow?
If Cape Coral City Council amends the city ordinance to allow American flags to be displayed in the right-of-way, I hope they will include stipulations as to the flag owner’s responsibility for proper maintenance of his display. It should not fall on the city ground crews to do this at tax payers’ expense.
Carolyn C. Helms
Fort Myers