U.S. Flag Declared Offensive

As a citizen of the United States of America, I am very proud of my country's flag and what it represents. I am proud of the men and women who have fought for our country, so that I may enjoy the freedoms that I have as an American. The American flag is a symbol of freedom and democracy and reminds us of all those who have fought to keep this country free and democratic. When I heard that Debbie McLucas of Mansfield, Texas was asked to take down her American flag in her office at work, I thought I must have heard the newscaster wrong. I could not imagine that happening anywhere in America, but certainly not in Texas. Unfortunately, I heard the newscaster perfectly clear.

Last week Debbie McLucas brought her 3' x 5' American flag to Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, Texas where she works as a hospital supervisor. According to Debbie, she hung it up in her own office to celebrate the upcoming Memorial holiday. Mrs. McLucas has a daughter, Lillian McLucas, who is currently serving in Iraq as an Army combat medic. Her 2 sons as well as her husband, have all served in the military. Memorial Day means a lot to her family and to many other American families. She wanted to show her pride for her daughter now serving, and for all the other servicemen and women in harms way. She thought she was doing something nice and patriotic by bringing her flag in for display.

McLucas said that when she returned to work last Friday, someone had taken down her American flag. She asked one of the other Supervisors at Kindred Hospital what had happened to her flag and was told it was removed because it was offensive. McLucas was told that a supervisor who was not born in the U.S.A., had complained about the flag and that other workers and patients had complained as well. It was the Non-American supervisor who took the flag down from McLucas's office. Her fellow supervisor was born in Africa but has lived in the United States for 14 years. McLucas found that the flag had been folded up and left on the floor. She was distraught and questioned if the young men and women fighting overseas are fighting for nothing, if this can happen in America. She was angry and hurt, so she decided to contact the local media to let others know what had happened in Mansfield, Texas.

Apparently I was not the only person outraged after hearing her story. Today, a couple dozen people, including veterans, showed up at the hospital to stand outside and proudly wave their American flags. Some of the demonstrators were interviewed on the local news and you could see the hurt and anger on their faces as they spoke. They questioned if these were the rights they fought for and why an American flag would be deemed offensive in America? I wondered the same thing. The American flag is not so offensive to those who complained, as to make them not walk into the hospital everyday. Outside of Kindred Hospital is a tall pole with an American flag. The flag is there everyday, yet no on complained about it or was too offended to work there or be a patient at the hospital. In fact, Debbie was told that if she wanted to be patriotic, she could walk outside and look at the flag on the pole.

Kindred Hospital is owned by Kindred Healthcare Corporation in Kentucky. Originally the corporation did not make any statements. The first statement they did release, declared that the flag itself was not offensive and that the only problem was the size of the flag. Their statement contradicts what Debbie McLucas was told by her fellow supervisor who said that even if just one person complained about it, she would have to remove it. She was never told it had anything to do with the size of the flag she hung up. Now that some national media has picked up on this story, Kindred Healthcare Corp. has received numerous calls and emails blasting their decision.

Its seems the public outrage, including those of the demonstrators outside the hospital, has changed the corporations mind on the matter. They have invited Debbie McLucas to put her flag back up and she is happy to do so. McLucas was grateful to those who came to stand with her and have their voices heard. She said that she received a call from her daughter in Iraq, thanking her for standing up for the American flag. Her daughter informed her that she is a hero to her army unit and they all sent their gratitude. She is a hero to me as well. This is the United States of America. If an American flag offends you in this country, you may simply choose not to fly one yourself. You should not have the ability to deny someone else there right to display an American flag here on U.S. soil. There are some things worth fighting for, and this is one of them.

http://cbs11tv.com/local/patriotism.at.office.2.1020415.html