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Veterans raising red flags about Old Glory's display
A couple of former Marines want to make sure American flags in Jacksonville are displayed appropriately in times of mourning — and without rips and tears.
Former Marine Joe Traumer contacted several area businesses Tuesday to get them to display the flag at half-staff to honor President Gerald Ford.
President Bush ordered that flags at all federal buildings be lowered to half-staff for 30 days following Ford’s death on Dec. 26, and Traumer wants all Americans to observe this when flying Old Glory.
“(It’s for) showing proper respect to the president of the United States,” Traumer said. “Just like on Veterans Day, everyone flies them at (half-staff) and it shows that the whole state is in mourning, not just the government.”
While private businesses are not mandated to do so, many businesses in town are displaying the flag at half-staff, including Bojangle’s and the Jacksonville Mall.
But Traumer said he found several businesses that displayed it at full-staff.
“This is a military town,” he said. “If there’s anyone that should know (flag) etiquette …”
Retired Master Sgt. John Cooney has started a tattered and unserviceable flag alert system.
Cooney is trying to make sure that flags on display are in good condition. He is encouraging his fellow veterans to let him know if any flags in town are torn and talk to the business and homeowners who display them.
“Most of the time (the owners are) very receptive,” Cooney said.
“Once in a while, you get one that has an attitude.”
Cooney said he’s talked to CJ’s Food Store on Gum Branch Road and the Exxon at the corner of Gum Branch Road and Henderson Drive about tattered flags, and those flags were taken down.
“Somebody sent me a letter,” said CJ’s owner Mahendra Surti.
“Somebody told me that the flag has a problem.”
An Exxon manager said Tuesday the station was waiting for a new flag to come in.
Cooney has also sent letters to another Jacksonville gas station and a store in the mall about the condition of their flags.
