Patriotic Highway Displays OKd For Now

[unhappycamper]

Patriotic Highway Displays OKd For Now
Knight Ridder/Tribune | December 07, 2007

METHUEN, Mass. -- Just one day after he was forced by the state to remove them, Jim Sereigo-Wareing will be back on Howe Street Dec. 7 hanging up flags in honor of local Soldiers.

The Eagle-Tribune reported yesterday that MassHighway banned the patriotic displays because of safety concerns, but within hours of removing the flags, Gov. Deval Patrick intervened.

Andy Jimenez, father of Lawrence Soldier Alex Jimenez, was with Sereigo-Wareing yesterday afternoon as they removed a POW/MIA flag in honor of Alex, who has been missing in Iraq since May.

The governor, who is on a seven-day trade mission in China, ordered MassHighway to stop its plans to remove any banners, flags, ribbons or other patriotic items that hang on bridges across the state, according to a statement released late yesterday afternoon.

Sereigo-Wareing's displays, and others, will be allowed to remain for the next month, while state officials convene a group of transportation officials and veterans representatives to find a new alternative to support Soldiers. Patriotic displays have been popular in the Merrimack Valley since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,157776,00.html?wh=wh



uhc comment: My chapter of the VFP has been in an ongoing battle with the MA Department of Transportation regarding signage. Patriotic displays = OK, messages of peace = NO.

[ixion]

1. because peace is so unAmerican

:sarcasm: