In northern Santa Barbara County, an Orcutt veteran’s organization raised donations to erect a flagpole and monument at the entrance to the community’s Old Town section. The pole would hang the American flag, encircled by five pillars, one each for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. CalTrans, however, denied the effort, calling it an impermissible act of “public expression.”
The Orcutt Pioneer reports that, although the Old Town Orcutt Revitalization Association “intends its flag as a tribute and symbol of freedom” — which would seem to be how most Americans would view their nation’s flag — “CalTrans sees it as a form of speech or expression, something more personal than patriotic.”
CalTrans said that its policy is in response to a ruling released by a 3-judge panel of the Ninth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, a ruling that was issued in response to impromptu flag-hanging in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
A bill (SB443) sponsored by Senator Tony Strikland, which would allow the flag and monument, is set to go before the senate appropriations committee on Monday.
Oh c’mon… This is NOT just “a flag”—it is a flag AND MONUMENT.
A deliberate misrepresentation of the facts.
No doubt everyone erecting a monument intends it to be a tribute and symbol to something they value. Sorry, folks, but why should your monument be exempt from rules we’d want to enforce for others? Or does adding an American flag to the Statue of My Cat Monument mean I get a pass, too?
What I’m hearing is, “What do you mean we can’t erect a monument where we want to? Why do you hate America???” Well, part of being an American is expecting, and accepting, fair and equal enforcement of our laws.
This is a land of reasonable laws. This isn’t a reasonable law. Even if it’s viewed as freedom of expression instead of an act of patriotism, there is no reason that CalTrans should be able to deny a acceptable monument on the grounds that it displays an American flag. It’s a government overstep.
Also, a “cat monument” and a veteran’s memorial are two very different things, that was a weak argument.
The monument was authorized. The brakes got applied when they saw there was a flagpole. Caltrans said they would allow it without the flag. That clear enough facts for you?
I agree with the previous poster. Even the county level news outlets are seeming to misconstrue the facts with misleading article titles. Is Tony Strikland trying to allow the flag, or the flag pole and pillars? These are not inclusive. A summary I read of the bill seems to suggest the latter.
It’s not the flag but the monument which should be the focus of this issue.
Is there no Veterans building in Orcutt where they can erect their monument? The problem with today’s society is that once you allow one monument, soon everyone will be clamoring for one.
What in the world!! Even if it is an expression, who can seriously object to honoring the armed services? These people have given so much for us. How can we not honor them?! Can we not say anything publicly anymore? This is political correctness gone way way too far.
The 9th. Circus… what a shock. We need more “monuments” and to say thank you to every Vet we see. God bless the United States Military! Is the word “God” allowed in N. SB County?
If you can’t support our troops and America, then PLEASE leave our country and the freedom that goes with it!
Would someone explain to me how Caltrans has jurisdiction over this proposed monument in Orcuit? Is the proposed site on Caltrans rightaway? Even so, what is proposed is vastly different from someone draping a flag or sign from a highway overpass.