Posted on 07/06/2010 6:43:56 PM PDT by thecodont
(07-06) 16:03 PDT FREMONT --
Caltrans apologized today for painting over a large American flag mural on a hillside above Interstate 680 just four days before the Fourth of July.
The 40-foot-wide flag near the Sunol Grade, created by three men the week after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was covered in gray paint Wednesday by a Caltrans crew after the agency declared it to be graffiti.
The move sparked outrage and prompted an apology from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. On Saturday, two men not involved in creating the original flag, James Gallagher and Steve Giordano, spent 12 hours painting a new Old Glory in time for Independence Day.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/06/BA0T1EA5K3.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0sxMNDBdI
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
An American flag mural, which was repainted over the past weekend after Caltrans crews - treating it as graffiti - covered it up, overlooks traffic on I-680 on Tuesday July 6, 2010 in Sunol, Calif. The actions made to remove the flag recently prompted apologies from the Governor.
I would really like the name of the person at CalTrans who declared the American flag to be graffiti. Come to think of it, I’d like his address.
Maybe someone could give him a better definition of the word.
Beautiful!!!
It looks even better than it did before!
That mural is right down the road from me. I was saddened when they painted over it. Now, I’m happy they repainted Old Glory and she looks refreshed as ever.
BTW, the guys that painted the first mural are duckhunters whom I correspond with on occasion on my hunting forum.
What a beautiful job they did!
“... painting over a large American flag mural on a hillside above Interstate 680 just four days before the Fourth of July”
Somehow this smells of malice.
Maybe documented and undocumented Democrats in Sacramento wanted it painted over -- though it did take 'em a while to get it done. Maybe some kind of personnel change at CalTrans made it possible?
I have mixed emotions about this mural. One might argue this flag is on the ground, which is against protocol. I’m all about flag protocol. Just ask the lady at the polling place who was reminded (by me) to flip her vertically draped flag so the blue field would be on the left instead of the right. It was nearly the end of the voting day and she stated no one had pointed that out to her.. Anyway, flag on the ground.. Hmmm.. I suppose I won’t let it bother me. I’ll never accept people wearing flags, however.. head bands, etc..
We really do need to know who this person, or persons were and they need to be made accountable for their actions.
I prefer flensing.
Protocol applies only to actual flags, not depictions of flags.
I am impressed. I have to confess that in my own mind, reading the news articles, and far removed from the scene, I had resigned myself to the triumph of deadening bureaucracy. I exalt in my shame.
Now I believe the apology to be sincere, now that it has been repainted.
I’ll assume it was an error and leave it at that.
About this mural. I like it even though it's on the ground. I can just visualize being in an airplane, looking down and seeing this gigantic flag looking up at me. I think it'd warm my heart, make me feel "at home". Also, painting this flag was an act of love, healing a wound. I never knew about this flag. Now I do, so in one way I'm kinda glad it was painted over. The fact that it was repainted, and so quickly, is uplifting in spirit, knowing that America still stands and will overcome the mess that's happening now.
God Bless the painters... and thank you.
“... painting over a large American flag mural on a hillside above Interstate 680 just four days before the Fourth of July”
Sounds like someone would be an fine addition to mac daddies plantation slave band of morons.
Found the original one here, somewhat faded but clearly visible on Google Earth:
(Sorry, I accidentally put the arrow directly on top of it and don't know how to fix it.)
That’s awesome! Beautiful!!! The flag sure does stand out. Thank you for googling it.
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