Graveside Flags Taken Down At Riverside Cemetary

Mercury News ^ | 3/24/05

[bluerose]

Veterans who volunteer at Riverside National Cemetery have written a letter to President Bush and other politicians decrying a policy that requires maintenance workers to pull up and burn flags planted by graves. For the past four months, flags have been removed by maintenance workers who burn them under order of the cemetery's new director, the veterans said. "This is a veterans cemetery," said Bob Markham, 73, of Redlands, a volunteer who spent 22 years in the Air Force. "If you can't put a flag on a veteran's grave here, where can you?

These young kids were killed defending our country. They deserve a flag on their headstone." Director Mark Maynard, who took over in November, said he is enforcing Department of Veterans Affairs guidelines that prohibit flags at individual gravesites except around Memorial Day. Flags left by gravesites get torn and dirty -- a sign of disrespect, he said.

[freecopper01]

FIRE THAT GUY.

[A CA Guy]

How long are the flags allowed in the weather to stay up and what condition are they in when they decide to burn them?

Doesn't reflect well on anything to have flags that have become rags in view of visitors.

What are the specific circumstances here?

[PAR35]

Now that they have gotten rid of most of the Confederate flags in cemetaries, they can start in on the US flag. They will probably allow a United Nations flag if you ask, however.

[nothingnew]

Director Mark Maynard, who took over in November, said he is enforcing Department of Veterans Affairs guidelines that prohibit flags at individual gravesites except around Memorial Day. Flags left by gravesites get torn and dirty -- a sign of disrespect, he said.

If this is what is really happening, then I agree.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Sergio]

At first read, it got me pretty steamed up, but how about this.

Are the flags taken down at sunset and put back up at sunrise? Unless they have a light on them, they are supposed to be. What conditions are the flags in? Where do you draw the line? Is a little dirt OK? How about a little fraying along the edges? Do the flags ever fall over and touch the ground?

The brave souls buried at national cemeteries gave their lives for that flag. I'm sure that they would not want to see it treated with disrespect, now matter how well intentioned the giver.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Best Regards

Sergio

[solitas]

Flags left by gravesites get torn and dirty -- a sign of disrespect, he said.

IMO: it's better to see a tattered flag on the grave of a Veteran than no flag at all.

[barker]

Ragged Old Flag

http://www.alighthouse.com/flag.htm

[solitas]

Yeh. One of his better pieces. 1974, I think.