HAMTRAMCK, Mich. (WXYZ) — Hamtramck leaders told public works employees to take down American Flags on city trucks. Now they are being accused of being anti-flag, but is that fair?
WXYZ went to city hall, and saw that police cars in Hamtramck bear a flag decal. The flag flies in front of city hall.
So what did happen? We tracked down Fred Masters, a Vietnam veteran who says he gave the flags at the center of this to city workers.
“I find the city removing flags from vehicles is an insult to all veterans who fought and even died for this country,” said Masters.
He says workers taped several flags he gave them to their work vehicles and an asphalt spreader.
“It is not overly large. It is not dragging on the ground. Its just displaying patriotism. What’s the matter with that?” asked Masters.
“Workers were directed to remove flags that were improperly displayed according to flag etiquette published by our military and rules set forth in the United States Code,” said Kathy Angerer, Hamtramck City Manager in a statement. “We take the issue of flag desecration seriously in Hamtramck and city vehicles should set a proper example of how our country's flag is displayed. The flag is a sacred thing. It should be treated with more reverence than haphazardly flying it behind a work truck. In this instance flags were duct taped to the work truck and asphalt machine where they could easily be soiled with road debris, come into contact with the ground, or cause a road hazard. Our flag deserves better. The City of Hamtramck supports our country, the service of active military and veterans and the proper display of the American flag.”
The city manager said she is open to putting a flag like those seen on police cars on public works vehicles for workers who want to proudly display a flag.
