Vets raise concern over lowering of POW/MIA flag Mayor issues apology and vows to more closely follow flag etiquette BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer Several veterans groups protested the raising of the flag of India on Aug. 15 because it required the lowering of the POW/MIA flag from a municipal flagpole dedicated to veterans. "It's like sacred land to the veterans," said Gary Thomas, commander of American Legion Post 324 in Edison. "Taking it down was like a slap in the face." The township held a ceremonial flag raising of the Indian flag as part of the India Day celebrations that had been ongoing for most of the previous week. Many members of the Indian community and several veterans protesters reportedly attended the ceremony. The township kept the flag raised for over an hour but removed it later that day. Thomas said that the veterans groups had no ill will toward the mayor, his staff or the Indian community. The veterans simply wanted them to show proper respect for the POW/MIA flag - something the American Legion holds in the highest regard. "Having the staff that he does, they should be more knowledgeable of what they are doing when it comes to veterans," Thomas said. Thomas said that the mayor also should have been more vigilant in recognizing flag etiquette. According to Thomas, some of the basic tenets of flag etiquette are to never let the flag touch the ground and to never allow flags of other countries fly as high as or higher than the American flag. Mayor Jun Choi released a statement a day after the incident stating that although the township had been following the precedent set by previous administrations, they were sorry that more attention had not been paid to flag etiquette. "The flag etiquette used Wednesday was the same that has been used in previous years in this township," Choi's statement said. The township vowed not to make the same mistake again. "Moving forward, we will implement and maintain proper flag etiquette throughout Edison Township," Choi said. Choi said that the motives were not to dishonor or malign veterans groups or the memory of those lost or killed in American wars. "There was never any intention to disrespect or dishonor veterans or any group of people," Choi said. "We have enormous respect for the tremendous sacrifices made by our veterans and the servicemen and women currently defending our freedoms." The mayor met with members of the various veterans groups on Thursday to discuss the situation, and Jerry Barca, Choi's communications director, said that those groups would be included in the future. "There will be continual open dialogue from veterans groups in this township, not just on flag raisings," Barca said. The mayor said it was important to hear the concerns of the veterans groups. "We had a constructive conversation," Choi said in a statement. "It was important for me to hear from the veterans in a face-to-face meeting. It was important that I hear their concerns." The India Day festivities were planned, in large part, by the Indian Business Association, and spokesman Satish Poondi said that although the flag raising was not planned by the IBA, that group is very proud to recognize American veterans. "From the IBA, we put the parade together on Sunday, and of course the first thing you saw was a U.S. vet color guard that led the parade," Poondi said. "The reason that was there was because we have an incredible amount of respect for the veterans groups." Poondi said the flag raising was a "well-intentioned event" and hoped that the issue would not hinder relations between veterans and the Indian community. "The POW/MIA flag is a very important symbol, not just to the veterans but to members of the Indian community," Poondi said. Barca said that one good thing that could come from the situation is a renewed awareness of flag etiquette. He insisted that the concern over the ceremony was not at all political. "It's not political at any level," Thomas said. "It's just flag etiquette."