Burlington Denies New Flagpole After Veterans Speak Up

BURLINGTON, MA — A discussion about erecting a flagpole to display certain flags on town property became an impassioned dialogue about the treatment of the American flag in Burlington and around the country, with at least one Select Board member retreating from their support of the flagpole after hearing veterans speak.

At issue in the June 28 meeting was a proposal for erecting a flagpole in front of the Youth and Family Services building at 33 Center St. with the intention of flying the Burlington town flag most of the time, replaced by other flags at certain times. No specific flags or times were mentioned.

But the discussion pivoted heavily to how it would diminish the American flag and other national hot-button issues regarding patriotism.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to deny the flagpole

"The intent of this was never to subjugate or shine any light poorly on the American flag," Selectman Nick Priest, one of the people behind the order, said after being swayed by the several veterans who spoke in defense of the American flag. "I don't know if I can support this anymore ... If we're going to try and find a way to help community members express themselves we need to do it in a different way."

Chris Hanafin, the town's director of veterans' services, led the charge against the order.

"I understand that there are multiple levels of discussion at the town, state and national level in regards to our American flag as it stands for and how it should be displayed and treated," he said. "These discussions have been initiated by special interest groups that want a platform or area to display their flag insignia or propaganda and want that area to be as prominent as the display of the American flag."

The proposed flagpole would have been smaller than the one that flies the U.S. flag, selectmen said.

Much of Hanafin's speech centered around broader issues around the country.

"Special interest groups around this nation and abroad are attacking the flag and mocking its traditions," he said. "Groups are burning the flag at a demonstration. Groups are actively trying to remove the flag from our schools and suing governments for saying the "Pledge of Allegiance" before government meetings and the start of a school day."

He even mentioned an Olympic athlete saying she wanted to burn the flag if she won a medal at the Tokyo Games before bringing it back to Burlington.

"To pretend that there aren't movements to remove the American flag from its position of prominence on our Common would be naive and imprudent," Hanafin said. "This latest measure to provide a governmental-owned piece of land as well as paying taxpaying dollars to provide a flagpole to fly a non-governmental flag is a slippery slope."

Hogan, who suggested the discussion be postponed to allow for more input, said the proposal was never about the American flag.

"It was just trying to do something nice for the population of Burlington, [it] had nothing to do with the U.S. flag," he said.

Veterans were dismayed that the flags they've fundraised for had to come from private donations, while the town would be paying this flagpole. Selectman James Tigges said legal counsel advised the town pay so the board could maintain control.

"I don't see why the funds should be there if it wasn't there for us," one veteran said.

"If people want to put up cultural flags, you put it on your own property," another said.

At some point during the veterans' comments, someone noted the American flag behind the Select Board was in the wrong place, and Hogan carried it from behind the left of the chairman to behind his right.

Hanafin also said there shouldn't be other flags being raised when there are pieces of town property — like the turf field at Marshall Simonds Middle School — that don't have an American flag.

"And to think that there isn't a national issue right now with patriotism with the emphasis of removing the flag — and I'm not saying it's here in this town but it could be coming here very shortly — so if we don't take a stand now when do we take it?" Hanafin asked.

The flag that flies in Burlington — the American one — represents all, he said.

"It is the opinion of most of the veterans I've spoken to that the American flag encompasses the very symbolism that any good-meaning special interest group is trying to portray with the flying of their own flag," Hanafin said. "The flag stands for freedom, justice and equal rights for all."

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Burlington Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.