Northport Pride flags were removed after complaints from American Legion veterans
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A controversy over Pride flags and veterans flags has sparked controversy in a Long Island village after officials removed some Pride flags following complaints about their placement and banners honoring local military veterans.
Northport Mayor Donna Koch said she removed the Pride flags after the Northport American Legion was concerned about Pride flags placed above “Hometown Heroes” banners honoring veterans, CBS News reported.
“I had the Pride flags removed. It had nothing to do with my feelings about the Pride community. I support it 100%. I also support our veterans,” said Koch.
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Pride flags are held at the Tennessee Capitol, Jan. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
ABC’s Eyewitness News reported Monday that American Legion Commander William McKenna told reporters, “They were putting pride flags over my veterans, and that’s not working, I’m sorry.”
“If you put a pride flag on one of my veterans, I bring them all down,” McKenna said.
ABC’s Eyewitness News reported that McKenna sent a letter to Koch and the town board that said, in part, “The concerns expressed are not about the pride flags themselves, nor are they intended to diminish the importance of recognizing any group in our community. Rather, many veterans and families feel that placing another banner above those veterans was a demotion of those who were intended to be demeaned again of those who were intended to demean their true status. he served our country.”
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Jeff Cusick, treasurer of Northport Pridefest, called the situation “very upsetting” in a quote published by CBS News.
“We love and support our vets, but the Hometown Heroes program is obviously given the rights to these lights from May to November, which is the entire outdoor season, and that leaves no room for other members of the community. We believe it’s a point of raising patriotism to discriminate,” said Cusick.
The newspaper reported that Pride flags and veterans flags are now displayed separately, and that PrideFest organizers said they would hang the removed Pride flags from empty poles in Village Hall at Tuesday night’s meeting, and the mayor said the village would pay for the necessary hardware.
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American flags and a pride flag hang at the White House before a Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn, Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
CBS News reported that military veteran Bruce Adams said he had no problem with Pride flags, but added, “The American flag should be above everything else. I looked up and saw my light bulb was empty.”
Resident Angel Deleva told CBS News, “Pride flags should not be above our veterans because they risked their lives for us.”
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Fox News Digital attempted to reach Koch, the Northport American Legion, and Northport Pridefest for comment but did not immediately receive responses.
