The Board of Selectmen of Amherst decided against flying special commemorative flags in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Amherst town. The decision was made in a three to two vote Thursday September 2 to extend the previous once every three years rule, to fly the flags only once every five years.
When the flags were first introduced coincidentally on September 10 2001 they were decided to be celebratory in nature. However, some town members such as Larry Kelley have pointed out that these flags are also flown for Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day.
“They should either fly the flags on 9/11 or not fly them on Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day,” said Kelley, who writes a blog called “Only in the Republic of Amherst.”
“People feel very strongly about this issue both ways,” said Stephanie O’Keeffe chair of the select board, “I can definitely see how both sides could be angry or upset.”
Two members of the select board had people close to them present at the 9/11 attacks in New York City, Diana Stein and Aaron Hayden. Both agreed that it was inappropriate to fly the flags on 9/11.
[…] Many residents and local students are upset by the board’s decision including the University of Massachusetts Republicans and Democrats. The UMass Democrats and UMass Republicans had an impromptu memorial service on the lawn in back of the Campus Center at 8:30 yesterday morning, and held a moment of silence for those lost on 9/11.
Read the full story at the UMass Daily Collegian.
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