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The town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts found themselves in the middle of a big controversy
over Memorial Day weekend. What was meant to be a meaningful flag display to honor our
veterans turned into government bureaucracy at its finest. Jon Crandall who works at Laer
Realty in Chelmsford lined up 200 some odd flags along the business property to honor
all those who served, and when the city attempted to shut down the display, the people of Chelmsford
came in full force to support them.
The Daily Wire reported,
“Back in the beginning of June, a realty company in Chelmsford, a small town in the
liberal state of Massachusetts, lined up some 200 flags along its office’s property to
celebrate America’s veterans on Memorial Day. The town’s officials decided that that
was a violation of a bylaw that forbids using flags for “commercial promotion.” “This
is a commercial establishment located at a busy intersection. It was in the front lawn
of that particular property, and in the opinion of our code enforcement officer, the building
commissioner, it was a violation,” said Michael McCall, Chelmsford’s assistant town
manager.
The town ordered the real estate company to take down some flags, but the company actually
added flags to the display after the story hit the newspapers and airwaves. Then this
happened. “That story prompted a public outcry. Supporters added more flags to the
display, bringing the total to 700,” CBS-Boston reported. “‘People have come out of the
woodwork to plant them, and they’re telling us their personal stories,’ said Crandall.”
The outcry “was enough to make the Town Manager have a change of heart. The flags
are now allowed, after all,” CBS reported.
“The intent wasn’t to be anti-patriotic or anti-American, but clearly there’s a
tremendous love of this country demonstrated with the American flag, and I think we’re
all better for it in the end,” Town Manager Paul Cohen said. “He plans to propose a
change in the bylaw at the next town meeting this fall, so no one else will ever have to
fight this fight again.””
Boston CBS reported,
““On Saturday we came out and we lined this with 200 flags in support of our deceased
veterans and all the people who have served,” says Jon Crandall who works at Laer Realty
in Chelmsford. He’s talking about small American flags planted in front of that business
for Memorial Day. When he went to work Friday, there was a surprise. “There was a note
in the door from the building department stating we had a violation, a flag violation, excessive
flags,” he says.
The problem? There’s a town bylaw that says you can’t use flags for “commercial promotion.”
“This is a commercial establishment located at a busy intersection. It was in the front
lawn of that particular property, and in the opinion of our code enforcement officer, the
building commissioner, it was a violation,” says Michael McCall Chelmsford’s Assistant
Town Manager. The town wants the real estate company to take down some of the flags and
leave up only what they call “a reasonable amount,” but hasn’t said how many that
is.
“We feel this is a patriotic act. It’s not about our business. It’s about supporting
our troops, supporting veterans,” Crandall says. So Friday, they actually added flags
to the display. There are about 500 now. “I think the flags speak for themselves. I don’t
think we need to get into a fight with city hall,” says Crandall. The town hopes the
realty company will get in touch so they can discuss the number of flags. This is not the
first time the realtors have displayed the flags, but it’s the first time they’ve
had a problem. They usually leave them up until the 4th of July.”
What kind of country have we devolved into when we cannot even put a display of American
flags out without the government telling us it is against the law. It is these types of
mundane and arbitrary laws that are the problem. Furthermore, the type of character and integrity
that an individual must lack to actually cite this illegality as a state employee. There
should be no shame and no criticism for trying to honor our veterans and those who have died
serving our country. That is part of the fabric of our society.
Some gave all, and all gave some and we should recognize these sacrifices every day and not
just on Veterans Day or Memorial Day. God bless the business and their staff in Chelmsford
for trying to pay homage and give respect for those who put their lives on the line
in defense of our country and our rights.
Share if you agree.
Share if you believe that these arbitrary rules making it illegal to put flags on the
lawn should be gone.
Share if you think the town did the right thing by supporting the business.
Share if you hope that something like this does not happen again.