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The folling is from the Muncie Star-Press

MUNCIE - Admitting he made a mistake, Mayor Dan Canan on Tuesday rescinded a ban on flying American and MIA/POW flags at Prairie Creek Reservoir campsites.

"I have been here nine years, and I am not a perfect individual," Canan told newspaper, radio and television reporters at a noon press conference. "I cannot explain why I missed the larger picture."

Canan sent out a new policy to Prairie Creek campers Tuesday, encouraging them to fly American and MIA/POW flags and apologizing for banning all flags. The ban on other flags remains.

"I now realize that my decision was made in haste and was an error on my part," the mayor wrote in the flier. "Men and women have fought and died for our flag and my decision was wrong."

The complete ban, an advised defense of a lawsuit filed by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union over the original ban of Confederate flags and sports banners, set off a storm of criticism and controversy as well as a media frenzy with Fox News, CNN and other networks running national stories about it.

"In my opinion, it is the stupidest thing I have heard in my whole entire life," said Chuck Johnson, whose parents camped at Prairie Creek for years.

"I thought (Canan) had been a pretty good mayor until now."

Richard Bellomy, a camper who objected to the Confederate flag ban, still thought Canan was trying to get rid of longtime campers.

"I think they are making these rules out of spite," said Bellomy, also referring to the order to remove all trailers and equipment after Nov. 1.

The mayor insisted he was not reacting to the firestorm of criticism, saying he already decided Monday night that banning the American flag was a bad idea.

"I have no excuses to make today," he said.

He also had thoughts of his upcoming trip to Bosnia with other government officials this week, asking rhetorically, "Here I am going to Bosnia to support the troops, and how can I do this?"

Steve Short, chief administrative officer of the Indiana American Legion, said he had never seen a government take down the American flag under any circumstance. The legion received numerous calls from outraged veterans.

"We are gratified the mayor came to his senses and this phase of the controversy is over," Short said.

ICLU attorney Ken Falk was just getting ready to file papers amending the First Amendment filed suit against the original ban when he got word of Canan's about-face.

"This does not solve the constitutional problemof where we are," Falk said. "The point is we are in a public park where certain constitutional rights are the strongest at promoting one's expression."

Canan indicated Tuesday there might be some common ground in settling the suit, but declined to say whether the city would go to trial or settle out of court.