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MINUTES OF THE
<br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING
<br /> Monday, September 28,2020
<br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m.
<br /> and at the entrance to a polling place. He believes for two weeks they've been violating U.S. Code for the
<br /> way the flag is to be respected and dishonoring the National colors. He said he's spent his entire life
<br /> respecting that flag and what it stands for, it's been fundamental in how he's live his life. From raising
<br /> that flag in his hometown in Michigan as a Boy Scout,to taking his oath at West Point,to administering
<br /> the Oath of Enlistment to hundreds of soldiers throughout his military career,that flag has always been
<br /> present. It is the same flag he wore on his shoulder as they went into Bosnia in 1995;the same flag that
<br /> flew over Ground Zero right after 9/11 when he took soldiers there to restore power;the same flag that
<br /> was flying when he landed in Afghanistan for the first time at the air field;the same flag that was draped
<br /> over caskets during his two tours in Iraq as they loaded their fallen onto the back of aircrafts to be flown
<br /> home. It is the same flag that was handed to him on his last day in the Army when he retired and left
<br /> active service and one day,he hopes it will be the flag handed to his next-of-kin. Mr.Edwards stated the
<br /> flag has importance as a symbol and there are certain rules of etiquette and a number of laws have been
<br /> passed at the National level in the Flag Code,which specifically speaks in the Section on Respect for the
<br /> Flag, Sub-paragraph G, "The flag should never have placed upon it,nor on any part of it,nor attached to
<br /> it,any mark, insignia, letter,word,figure,design,picture,or drawing of any nature."In Sub-section I it
<br /> states,"The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner. Advertising signs should
<br /> not be fastened to the staff or the halyard from which the flag is flown." Mr. Edwards continued saying
<br /> he is 100%behind supporting other uniformed services, including Police and Fire, and the U.S. Code
<br /> authorizes the wearing of the patch of the American Flag on the shoulder of their uniforms. He said there
<br /> are a lot of good intentions in the community, if someone took the American Flag and took the Thin Blue
<br /> Line Flag and superimposed the two of them,they created this(image showed onscreen),which many
<br /> people are referring to as the Blue Lives Matter flag. He said personally, as a piece of art or something to
<br /> hang on the wall, it is fine,but he doesn't think this meets U.S. Flag Code and has any place on the
<br /> flagpole that flies in front of Orono's Government Building, above the Veteran's Memorial and in front of
<br /> the polling place. His plea is to honor the Police Department,but to do it in another fashion and in
<br /> another way that isn't on the same flagpole flying a device that doesn't meet the U.S. Flag Code. He said
<br /> he'd be happy to help in finding other ways to do that.
<br /> Printup agreed,noting it doesn't mean the Council is against anything or for something more,he thinks
<br /> with a very simple amended motion it can be fixed that gives the integrity to the American Flag which
<br /> they all absolutely love and cherish,just by moving it somewhere else.
<br /> Crosby stated he never thought by extending support for their Police Department,who to him are under
<br /> tremendous strain right now, denigrates the American Flag in any way. To him, if one denigrates the
<br /> American Flag,they're denigrating the exact flag. He said he's taken Mr. Edwards' comments to heart
<br /> and reached out to two Veterans he knows; one is a gentleman that his daughter is engaged to, and he
<br /> replied if Crosby was asking if the Blue Line Flag is offensive, of course not, but he's also a cop(MP).
<br /> He said he loves that flag, and it represents the sacrifice police officers make to keep us and the American
<br /> public safe every day. People understand what that flag means and that it is support for the Police
<br /> Department, and he doesn't think necessarily all Veterans view it as a degradation of the American Flag.
<br /> Crosby asked another gentleman who is dating his youngest daughter who served several tours in Iraq as
<br /> a Marine, and he replied it does not offend him. Crosby noted he politely disagrees with Mr. Edwards,
<br /> he's not opposed to taking the flag down and replacing with the one that was purchased,but it has
<br /> symbolism of a City Council that supports its Police Department, it was a gift to their Police Chief to
<br /> hang at Orono City Hall. He said it's no disrespect to Mr. Edwards' service or anyone serviceman's
<br /> service. Crosby has the highest and utmost regard for the people who serve this country, so much that
<br /> after 9/11 he felt he had to do something to show his respect and that was Crosby serving as a firefighter
<br /> for 10 years and risking his life to honor the people that died on 9/11, and he also lost a friend on that day.
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