BETHESDA U.P. RESTORES VETERANS PARK FLAG LIGHTING

U.S. FLAG

FLYING AGAIN

TUESDAY NIGHT

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The U.S. Flag illumination problems in Bethesda's Veterans Park I reported here Monday morning, have been corrected.

Tuesday, 8:30 PM

Workers from Bethesda Urban Partnership fixed the lighting, and by last evening, the Stars and Stripes were flapping over Veterans Park once again.

Earlier Tuesday, I received a Twitter message from Bethesda U.P. that said the lighting for the flag was going to be fixed, and in the meantime, the flag would be raised in the morning, and taken down by dark.

So I was surprised to find the flag - properly lit - already flying over the park last night.

Bethesda U.P. released photos showing workers in action Tuesday.

Bethesda U.P. workers repair flag display
lighting at Veterans Park Tuesday
[Photo: Bethesda U.P.]

Kudos to Bethesda U.P. for addressing this matter, and I highly recommend everyone stop by and see the flag in its fully-lit glory after dark.  But if you can't, I've posted a photo above.

BETHESDA VETERANS PARK FLAG UPDATE

Last night, the American flag in Veterans Park was lowered and removed before dark.  As I reported yesterday, the flag had been flying in darkness recently, in violation of the U.S. Flag Code.

Veterans Park, Tuesday evening

While taking the flag down is the appropriate course of action, in the event no illumination is possible, this is not the ideal solution.

Is there a wiring or bulb issue?  If so, this should be resolved as soon as it is feasible to do so.  I'm glad that the flag is now (hopefully) going to be treated properly, and hope it will be raised again during daylight hours today.

But Veterans Park should not be left in substandard condition indefinitely.  We have a setup there to illuminate the flag and veterans memorial at night, and we ought to use it.  The park is a public space, and should be inviting to the public around the clock.  And with the monument and flag illuminated, it is also an inspiring place.

As the richest town in America, it's incumbent upon us to aim a bit higher than this.  If parks aren't going to be maintained in working order, taxpayers may start demanding a refund of the taxes they've paid for that very purpose.