Flag storage deplorable, says World War II veteran
Jim Walsh, 87, of Wilkes-Barre, told the Independent Gazette that he personally visited Wilkes-Barre City’s Department of Public Works building on Conyngham Avenue so he could see for himself how the storage of our nation’s flag was being implemented by the city. Walsh said he was horrified to discover the flags stored with trash piled both on, and next to, the flags. “It was an utter disgrace,” said Walsh.
Jim Walsh
Walsh has been very outspoken over the past several months, attending nearly every city council meeting, and questioning both council and the administration as to the infrequency of display of our nation’s flag, city wide. Walsh has even gone so far as to form a committee to raise funds to cover the costs of buying and displaying flags along city streets, bridges, and flagpoles, all in an attempt to overcome the financial hardship rebuttals offered by council and the administration.
Walsh stated, “When I showed the photos of how trash was thrown on our nation’s flag at the DPW to a five year old girl, and asked her how she felt, looking at the photos, her eyes welled up with tears, and she told me, ‘I don’t like the way it looks. It’s not nice.’ ”
At the April 10 city council meeting, Walsh presented the body with the photos, and requested that something be done about this. Council Chair Bill Barrett instructed Municipal Affairs Manager Drew McLaughlin to investigate the situation.
Phone messages left for the city administration by the Gazette seeking comment and follow-up regarding Mr. Walsh’s complaints to city council — and any corrective action taken at the DWP — were not returned as of the time of printing.
