News

Actions

Westland returns American flags to business

Posted at 4:49 PM, May 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-27 16:50:17-04

Memorial Day weekend is about honoring those who've lost their lives serving our great country.

That's exactly what the owner of a Westland store did when he planted flags along the sidewalk in front of his business.

The city's ordinance officers removed them.

Now, city officials are apologizing and allowing the flags to stay up

Ken Dablestein has been putting up flags days leading up to Memorial Day for the past 30 years.

The flags were on display Tuesday, but by Thursday, an ordinance official removed them, citing signage violations.

Ken tried to chase the woman to get his flags back.

"I said I'm not going to touch her, I'm going to take my flags back but the way she parked her vehicle I couldn't get my cart around. I'm handicap so I can't walk. But I was going to reach in her truck and get my flags back."

The mayor of Westland called Ken and apologized.

The confiscated flags were returned Friday.

But the community was so outraged, people have been stopping dropping off American flags as a sign of support.

Anita Dever showed her support and has this message for the ordinance officer: "I would say for them to leave the American flag alone. Anything other than that can go according to ordinance but especially on this weekend."

Ken will leave the flags up until Tuesday and plans to do this again on Independence Day.