Seminole residents gathered Sunday afternoon in protest after firefighters were told to remove flags from their trucks.
Waving U.S. flags, the residents gathered just north of 70th Avenue on 113th Street in support of the firefighters, who were told by city officials that they were violating U.S. code by incorrectly displaying the flags.
"It's beyond unpatriotic," Seminole resident Rod Bullock said. "There's a lot of blood on that piece of cloth, and to tell these gentlemen they can't fly it every time they go into battle – and they go into battle – they should be able to have that flag."
Following a citizen complaint, fire department administrators say they warned the firefighters several months ago that they were flying the flag incorrectly by hanging them out of their truck windows.
According to United States code, the "Flag Code" – adopted 70 years ago – states the staff of the flag shall be firmly fixed to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
Officials say they will allow the firefighters to display the flags, as long as they follow the code. But some residents were still angered by the decision.
"While we do not believe the act of one of our employees to display a flag was meant to be disrespectful, the flag was removed," Seminole Fire Rescue spokeswoman Alison Shanabrook said.
That didn't ease the anger for some residents who say the flags should still be displayed.
"I'm sorry it offends them," Seminole resident Katherine Durst said. "They can look away the next time firefighters come to save their lives."
Added Dave Dabney: "I think to come back with a compromise or a solution instead of a mandate to remove them would have been a much better thing to do."
Waving U.S. flags, the residents gathered just north of 70th Avenue on 113th Street in support of the firefighters, who were told by city officials that they were violating U.S. code by incorrectly displaying the flags.
"It's beyond unpatriotic," Seminole resident Rod Bullock said. "There's a lot of blood on that piece of cloth, and to tell these gentlemen they can't fly it every time they go into battle – and they go into battle – they should be able to have that flag."
Following a citizen complaint, fire department administrators say they warned the firefighters several months ago that they were flying the flag incorrectly by hanging them out of their truck windows.
According to United States code, the "Flag Code" – adopted 70 years ago – states the staff of the flag shall be firmly fixed to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
Officials say they will allow the firefighters to display the flags, as long as they follow the code. But some residents were still angered by the decision.
"While we do not believe the act of one of our employees to display a flag was meant to be disrespectful, the flag was removed," Seminole Fire Rescue spokeswoman Alison Shanabrook said.
That didn't ease the anger for some residents who say the flags should still be displayed.
"I'm sorry it offends them," Seminole resident Katherine Durst said. "They can look away the next time firefighters come to save their lives."
Added Dave Dabney: "I think to come back with a compromise or a solution instead of a mandate to remove them would have been a much better thing to do."
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