Bridge display commentsOn December 4th, MassHighway commissioner placed a ban and ordered all signs, banners and American flags removed from highway overpasses. Gov. Patrick on December 5th ordered a halt to the removal of any patriotic displays on bridges. What do you think?
Last Edited on 19-Dec-2007 7:25 AM
Peter
28-Dec-2007
3:10 AM edit • delete
Highway overpasses are public property, not personal billboards. Also, it's disrespectful (and illegal) to hang American flags where they are not illuminated at night and are allowed to become tattered, as yours are. Please feel free to decorate your own personal property as you wish, but leave your unsightly displays off of our highway overpasses.
Peter on December 27, 2007
Jim Wareing-Methuen
28-Dec-2007
Peter,
My flag displays have NEVER been tattered and they are refreshed every three months. I can only assume you have no clue where my displays are or you work for MassHighway.
As for bridges being public property, I agree, and my taxes paid for them. I am glad to have an American flag on our bridge overpasses to welcome home a soldier as they defend our country and our flag.
As for the legality issue, it is NOT illegal to place a flag or banner on a fence of a bridge overpass if it is not causing a safety issue. This has been researched and not only is it legal but even our legislators stepped to the plate in defense of banners and American flags affixed from bridge overpasses.
As for the lighting issue, street lights are in most cases on bridge overpasses so the flags wave in the light. Otherwise, I hope a bright moonlit sky will keep the flags visible along with headlights. Flag etiquette is outdated and needs to be revised. The main purpose of flag etiquette is to ensure the flag is displayed with respect. I can’t see how American flags displayed on a bridge for a soldier or their family is in any way disrespectful, in fact, it is with honor.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, storefronts, buildings, porches, and even a few bridge overpasses have been decorated with Old Glory. The red, white and blue are a testament to the courage, strength and unity of the citizens of the United States. Do I display flags according to the U.S. Flag Code, probably not, but I and others are doing it respectfully and with pride. Flag etiquette is just that and needs to be modified again as it was in 1976 and the bottom line should be the the intent. Do you salute the flag every time it passes you in a parade, probably not, so should you be arrested for that? That rule is in the flag act of 1976.
Affixing a flag on an overpass is not illegal, unethical, or insulting. The American flag should be everywhere it can be visible. Old glory is the welcome home our truest heroes deserve, our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Sailors and our Coastguard.
Having met numerous mothers and fathers of Soldiers and Marines who never got to say goodbye to their son, I know first hand what these banners and flags mean to them. It is for this reason that these flags will remain on these bridges, outweighing the petty issue by those who have not endured the pain of losing a son or daughter, a friend or relative in a war.
God Bless America and our military and May our American flags be seen proudly and with honor on our bridges.
Jim Wareing-Methuen, MA
Peter
28-Dec-2007
Do you really think highway overpasses are the best place to display your personal pride? Shouldn't drivers be paying attention to the road, instead of curving their necks and straining to read graffiti on the overpasses as they drive underneath? Our only objection to these displays are that they are designed at the whim of random people. Let our elected officials and highway crews be in charge of covering the lovely chain-link fences on our rusting overpasses with patriotic or other decorations.
6-Jan-2008
Hi Peter,
Just wandering if you have someone who is currently serving somewhere or perhaps lost someone. I'm trying to understand why you find it so wrong to display the flags. Did you serve,or are you currently serving? I would like to hear from you.
Doug
7-Feb-2008
Peter
I hope and pray your neck is ok from the serious strain placed on it while trying to look up. If you get injured looking up at a flag I suggest going to the gym and getting in shape. While your there struggling to get back in shape imagine what a struggle it is for our heroes fighting for your rights to whine about something so small as hanging a flag to honor our heroes!
Peter
5-Mar-2008
I support the troops. That's why I was happy to read this morning's Eagle Tribune to learn that permanent signs will be erected on our highway shoulders at the state borders that recognize their brave efforts. It looks like the flags and banners on the overpasses will be coming down soon.
5-Mar-2008
Hanging on a chain link fence over a bridge is no way to treat our flag.
These flags go untouched for months, sometimes years, and turn into little more than oily, grimy rags from months of exhaust fumes, rain, snow, overexposure to sun, and everything else mother nature throws at them.
They are a disgusting sight to see, and you disrespect the flag every time you do this.
You want to support the troops? Send them materials they need! Don't disgrace our flag in their name!
Me
5-Mar-2008
What do I think? I think if that's what the state says, then that's what it is. Time to move on. Get over it...
me 2
5-Mar-2008
I guess MassHighway workers found your web site Jim
From Jim Wareing
Flags and banners that are not secured, dirty, faded or torn should be removed and have always agreed and supported MassHighway removing them. In fact, twice a year I travel RT495, RT93 and RT90 and remove all old tattered banners and flags. I never disagreed with that issue but I disagree with removing our bridge displays because we change our flags all the time (every 3 months) and these displays are by far safer than the 250 deficient bridges owned by MassHighway. MassHighway should take care of their own issues before they make an assault on the American flag. In a report by Hank from a TV station in Boston it will take more than 8 years to repair these unsafe bridges. That's because MassHighway has spent $100,000 or more on man hours and other resources trying to tear down the American flag from these overpasses for 2 1/2 years. Shame on the Governor for falling for the Commissioner's trap.
Harvey
6-Mar-2008
The respectful way to fly a flag and honor our troops is on a pole, where the flag can wave in the breeze. It must, must be spotlighted at night, lowered to half-staff when necessary, and replaced when it is tattered. Tying a flag to a chain-link fence on a highway overpass is not beautiful, respectful, or honorable.
6-Mar-2008
I don't need a pin on my lapel to prove my loyalty.
I don't need a sticker on my car to prove my support.
I don't need flags on every bridge I drive under to remind me of anything.
MaTaxpayer
7-Mar-2008
Mr. Wareing, it's obvious you feel very strongly about this, and that's ok as long as you tolerate other Americans who do not agree.
All the veterans and relatives hanging these signs & flags I'm sure mean well, but you come off treating public property as if it were your own front yard, to do with any way you want.
MassHighway I think has been pretty understanding and now has a proposal for permanent recognition. It's sad that you and others posting feel so attacked by MassHighway and are suspicious of any post that doesn't toe your line. I for sure am NOT a MH employee or state employee but a private citizen who want our public structures free of banners that any group feels it should hang.
Please try to step back and think about whether your actions and attitudes are good for our brave troops in the long run.
Me 3
7-Mar-2008
Thank you Harvey for noting those rules of flag etiquette -- I was about to note the same. To Mr. Wareing - there are other ways to invest in support for troops and I recognize that you are well involved. I'd suggest you continue those pursuits, and stop trying to turn this issue into fodder for the next FOX News news story...
Al
7-Mar-2008
Jim, if you find your displays so attractive and moving, as I'm sure you do, why don't you surround your own house with an 8-foot tall rusty chain link fence, and tie up a few dozen POW flags to it? I agree wholeheartedly with MaTaxpayer that you shouldn't be allowed to treat public property as if it were your own. You don't have to convince any one of us that you're patriotic. Just don't pretend you represent a majority of Massachusetts residents just because a whopping 107 people have voted "Yes" (in favor of your method of defacing public property) on your website poll.
Al
7-Mar-2008
Jim,
I now sincerely regret using the work "defacing" in my previous post. Let me state that I believe you only have honest intentions in honoring our troops the way you have chosen. That said, I just think you have made a mistake in judgement A) by acting like public property is your own, and B) by attacking people who disagree with you (especially by creating this strange website) so viciously and unfairly. I can't wait to see your response, stating how unpatriotic I am...how I must not have served...how I don't have any loved ones who served...how you hope I die in a terrorist attack.
Jim Wareing
7-Mar-2008
I wouldn't think just because you or others who oppose what we do or because you hate this website and think this is cruel that it would indicate that you are unpatriotic in any way, shape or form.
In fact you have an opinion and that is good and you and I can express it freely and I think that's great. People can disagree and that doesn't make you or me a bad person.
That being stated, let me first explain that this web site was originally designed to provide safety precautions if anyone wishes to place a 'welcome home banner' for their returning Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Coastguard man or woman when the Governor announced that the displays could remain until the task force met.
A little history check from 2006 would prove that Governor Mitt Romney asked me to work with MassHighway to come up with a policy to ensure safety on the bridges with displays which MassHighway never did. I had sent in my recommendations for a policy in December 2006 via e-mail (I still have my e-mail)and no one from MassHighway ever commented on it other than to say thank you.
Then it became personal after I was invited to a meeting in November 2007 by Commissioner Paiewonsky only to be told when I got there that they didn't want my advice on making sure displays were secure but only wanted to let me know she was taking the displays down.
I was then asked if I would take down my two displays and not force MassHighway to take them down as it would be less embarrassing for them. I agreed and Andy Jimenez, the father of Alex Jimenez joined me to take down the display that was placed on behalf of his son after he was kidnapped in Iraq by Al Quaeda on May 12.
In my opinion the Commissioner underestimated and insulted my intelligence at that meeting and insulted my friend Andy Jimenez who's son is still a POW/MIA.
I was also informed very recently what the Commissioner had stated at the last task force gathering when Veteran's organizations were invited to attend. The commissioner spoke about a bridge that had a display for a Marine who was KIA. I won't go into all what was said but I took it to heart and knew at this point that she was insensitive to what this display meant to the family as she stated that the bridge was already named after that Marine. I hope it was not intentional but I just feel she is far removed from what families go through.
To go into my background slightly since many of you questioned it, I am NOT a veteran. I was a director at a high profiled company until I was diagnosed with MS back in 2003.
Recently I have become very good friends with 5 families who had their sons killed in action since 2002 and when something is said about any one of them I take that as an attack on that family.
I believe no one could ever understand what a family goes through to have their son come home in a flag draped coffin. I have seen it first hand at least 12 times and let me share a little of it now without using names.
First a Marine mom who I came to know quite well right after she buried her son. I would go visit with her every other day in the first few weeks after his burial. No, not at her house but at her son's grave. She had a bench she bought so she could sit and talk to her son. She spent about 8 hours a day there since she lived close by. This grave became a shrine for her son, very decorated. Then someone had the audacity to steal her bench. The town ended up replacing the bench shortly thereafter.
When her son died I had originally placed 3 banners on a bridge in her hometown honoring her son which she now keeps with her other memorials made in behalf of her son. It's been 3 years now and she still goes to the grave daily. She doesn't watch the news anymore because she can't bear to see any family go through what they endure everyday.
Then there is another family who's son went to college, graduated with a 4 year degree,got a real good high paying job and then 9-11 happened and he decided to join the Marines. He learned Arabic while in Iraq and became a translator only to be killed his first year over in Iraq. He was offered to go into the Marines as an enlisted officer but refused as he stated that he can't lead a group unless he was one of the grunts first.
Another set of banners were made for their son with a personal message. They too have kept those banners as a lasting memorial for their son and I still decorate that bridge with American flags that wave ever so nicely in the wind.
The Marines father drives over that bridge everyday to go to work and both he and his wife have told me what that display means to them on their son's bridge.
His father told me so many times how nice it is to see those flags flapping in the wind, especially when they are fresh and crisply waving and he tells me that it makes his day and that it is like his son is saying hi to him.
Then there is this real close friend of mine, everyone knows who he is. His son was kidnapped last year with another soldier. I also speak with the other soldier's family every 3 or 4 days.
These two soldier's have not been found yet. I decorated a bridge in his son's behalf (as well as for the other soldier too) hoping that soon he will be found and when he is found this display will be his welcome home.
I thought maybe display would make his mother and father feel like a community is standing with them while they await word on their son's fate. We also had yellow ribbons placed in all the school windows to show the family the support for his son.
I sit with this soldiers father 2 or 3 times every week and it was about six months before I saw him crack his first smile since his son was captured.
We visited his son's unit last October at Fort Drum and visited his soldiers comrades. I never thought I would see a group of 7 soldiers standing there crying uncontrollably, hugging the father close and muttering the words "I'm so sorry." Even the photographer and reporter were crying as we were swept by the moment as they talked how nice his son is and how so respected he was by his unit and even his Colonel.
Now it's been almost a year and it is just as hard on him as it was in the first few months. I have seen the heartache of this soldier's mother and father. They both envision their son is being held captive in a cave and they hope everyday that he will walk through the door and say "mama and papi, I am home and I am OK."
Now about me attacking anyone, yes, if I knew someone who was so insensitive to attack one of these families my gloves come off and they have. It wasn't the first time either.
When I attended the MassHigwhay meeting in November 2007 with the Commissioner and her staff I tried to relay information about two families and what they were going through.
After the Commissioner left and before the meeting ended, it was conveyed to me that even though I decorated one bridge for a fallen Marine that it was stated to me "well, we named the bridge after their son, so that family has already been honored and it would be no issue to have this display come down." This comment has now been repeated in the task force meeting.
I was appalled then when it was said directly to me and even more now that it seems to have been repeated in front of a well known Veterans organization. It a small , secured and quite safe display that makes this family feel somewhat good that a community takes the time to pay tribute for the sacrifice that both her son and they have paid.
I am not an insensitive person. In fact this has caused so many sleepless nights that I even quit doing the displays last year until the kidnapping of the two soldiers happened and I sat for two weeks and thought through the situation and came to the conclusion that as long as we have men and women in harms way I will welcome them home with this kind of display. I then resurrected my two remaining displays.
I grew up in the Vietnam era, never served in the military, and I made a promise to myself when this war started that I would never let our veterans feel like we made them feel back then. I will continue to fight this till these displays are allowed to stay up.
As for my displays, the American flags are under street lights, they are secured, the flags wave freely as they are stick flags, so they follow etiquette.
Even at the MassHigway meeting in November 2007 the Commissioner stated to me that she knows my displays are safe and that she has no issues with mine but others who put up a banner and just leave it there. I say, remove any display that is not secured or is old.
Do you think that if a ban is in place that would stop the political signs or happy birthday signs from hanging on these overpasses or the cups spelling out "I love..."? I didn't think so.
MassHighway has the option now and when the new policy is stated to remove anything they deem as unsafe.
As for making this personal, yes, it became personal when MassHighway attacked one of my close friends who lost their son.
One point I want to close with. I have agreed with some state officials that once these displays are OK'd to remain, this web site will be converted back to its original purpose which is to help make sure people follow precautions when people hang banners, signs or flags on overpasses.
Until that time I am using this site to level the playing field as we are up against a Governor, and a Commissioner with an agenda. They both have their own public relations departments and both have their legal teams. It's hard to fight city hall and nearly impossible yo fight a state.
If it were not for the soldiers and their families I would have given up already. I feel strongly that if a soldier is ready to lay down his or her life for me then this is the least I can do for them.
About the comment on the opinion poll on our web site.... I don't pretend anything. I know how people feel when I am on the bridges, horns beeping and people stopping. These displays are not about me, not even about you, they are and have been about America. This is just a small thing I can do to help make others feel good. What have any of you done to help a military member or their families feel good today?
These displays started a few years ago and since then we have started an organization (New England Caring for Our Military Inc.)sending care packages and telephone cards to our military members throughout the world utilizing some 17,000 students and seniors. These care packages totaled in excess of $700,000.00 worth of products.
When the displays are OK to stand, the winners from this will be our veterans, the current soldiers returning and their families.
It will not be a win for me as the bridges have lost their meaning on a personal level thanks to the Commissioner. I use to see the flags flapping in the wind and always thought it was saying "Good Morning America" as I drove past them. That is long gone.
The losers when this is resolved ...both Commissioner Paiewonsky and me, whatever the outcome.
Last Edited on 10-Mar-2008 6:03 AM
Last Edited on 26-Mar-2008 11:44 AM
