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Sweeping Out Excuses

I would like to thank the towns of Westbrook and Clinton for displaying the American flag on Memorial Day weekend on their streets, as well as the other towns along the shoreline, but in Old Saybrook, there were no flags flown on Main Street nor the Old Saybrook Fire Station building. I am sure many vets are not happy about this nor am I.

Some of the excuses that were passed made not sense at all. This seems to be the trend, sweeping excuses out to the town taxpayers. Let’s see, the police boat, wasn’t that rejected? Yet the boat was purchased. Let’s see, didn’t the Home Depot want build on the property near the train station but was rejected by a few store owners and town officials because of traffic problems? Now a 186-apartment complex—huge—is being developed, just to name a few.

In conclusion, I just hope the selectmen will make sure the American flag will be displayed on Main Street on Flag Day and Veteran’s Day. Let’s not be another Coventry, Rhode Island, and the mess that happened there [in which firefighters were allegedly asked to remove flags from firetrucks].

William Fitch

Old Saybrook

Editor’s note: The Old Saybrook Fire Department flag is not raised during high winds or precipitation. To learn how to help the Old Saybrook–Westbrook Exchange Club restore Old Saybrook’s privately owned Main Street flags, visit www.oswexchangeclub.com or email info@oswexchangeclub.com.