Lubbock Residents Outraged Over Treatment of American Flags

What ridiculous thing are we talking about this week, Lubbock? How about improperly stored flags?

A picture circulated the other day on Facebook featuring some American flags that were in a clear plastic bag in the back of a City of Lubbock aviation truck.

Evidently, these were worn flags that were set for disposal that weren't taken in at the proper time. There was no intention of 'just throwing them away.'

This gives us a little time to review.

With great love for you veterans who objected to this scene on social media, you didn't 'fight for that flag.' You fought for the principles it stands for, and one of those principles is the right for anyone to do anything they want with the flag. Freedom means the freedom to do the wrong thing and, until a law is enacted against improper disposal or treatment of flags, then anyone can treat any flag any way they want.

Let's go further. Bathing suits, shorts, headbands, wife beater t-shirts, knick-knacks and more are all branded with the American Flag. I don't see any protest over those items. Does outrage only count over flags that fly? What about stickers of the American flag?

I myself would never intentionally desecrate the American flag. I was one of those kids who jumped at the chance to raise and lower the flag at school. With honors like that, I learned that I have a right to love that flag just as some one has the right to not love it.

Below is a statement from the City of Lubbock on what actually occurred. Before you get to that, I wish that everyone that was so outraged over this situation would get just as outraged at the violent crime in this town. We can always make new flags; we can't always replace personal property, heal the wounded or raise the dead.

Here's the City of Lubbock's statement on the flags:

Airport staff was notified yesterday of a picture posted on social media of an American flag in a see-through plastic bag that was in the bed of an Aviation pickup. Airport procedures call for American flags on airport property to be disposed of properly.

American flags at the airport are replaced when the condition of the flag begins to deteriorate. The four American flags on airport property were taken down late in the afternoon on Friday, February 12. Normal airport procedure is to fold them, put them in bags, and then take the flags to either the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post on 114th Street or the American Legion Post on 66th Street for proper disposal. Due to the timing of their removal, the flags were not taken to either of those entities on Friday. If there is a delay in taking them to the VFW or American Legion Post, the flags are typically stored indoors until they can be dropped off for proper disposal. That procedure was not followed in this instance.

Airport staff have met and gone over flag procedures to ensure that proper flag handling and disposal procedures are followed at all times so this situation does not happen again. Aviation staff, as does all of City of Lubbock staff, takes the handling and disposal of American flags seriously.

The flags in question have now been taken to the American Legion Post for proper disposal.