Pat Dollard | Young Americans

I would imagine that the complaints made are a matter of public record, and as such, should be made available to anybody that wants to have a look.

History will record more than just the War in Iraq/Afghanistan of our times, but also the war at home, between the left-leaning mainstream media and anti-war socialist/marxist/anarchist groups vs the Pro-Troop, Pro-American, Patriotic Conservative Right for the hearts and minds of mainstream swing-vote middle-of-the-road-Americans.

BRADFORD, PA-The red, white and blue of the United States flag has a lot of meaning for Americans — and personally for Vietnam veteran Mike Smith, who for several years has proudly displayed two American flags at the curb on the sidewalk in front of his East Main Street business, flanking a “Prisoner of War, Missing in Action” flag for the service men and women who never came home.

However, the display of patriotism has caused a brush with the law for the business owner.

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Bradford City Code Enforcement officer George Corignani filed a citation Tuesday with District Judge Dom Cercone’s office, charging Smith with violating the city’s sign ordinance.

The ordinance reads as follows: “No temporary sign shall extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk or other public thoroughfare a distance greater than four inches from the wall upon which it is erected.”
Corignani did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Mayor Tom Riel — who had challenged the city’s sign ordinances as a private citizen in 2004 — said the problem isn’t with the flags themselves.

“I understand there were complaints the flags were waving out into the street, into the lane of traffic,” Riel said. “No matter what flags they are, they are wafting out into traffic and causing a concern.”
The citation reads that “the owner was asked to remove flags from the curb,” but after several requests and no action on Smith’s part, city officials acted to enforce the ordinance.

“They said they had several complaints that my flags obstruct the view pulling out of my driveway,” Smith told The Era. “They sent me a citation in the mail.

“I’m a 23-year combat vet from Vietnam (and) a disabled vet,” Smith said. “I put my flags out every morning for the troops in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and for the ones who didn’t come home.

“If it’s in defiance of a city ordinance, then change the ordinance,” Smith said vehemently.
“The flags have been up there eight years, and I’ve never had a complaint,” he said, “and for 43 years before that on Mechanic Street, and I never had a complaint.

“The flags have been up there eight years, and I’ve never had a complaint,” he said, “and for 43 years before that on Mechanic Street, and I never had a complaint.

“I gave 23 years to my country and I can’t fly my flag? I want to have my day in court.”
Smith said he averages 52 customers a week at his store, and he hasn’t heard any complaints about the flags.

“I’ve got kids from (Floyd C. Fretz Middle School) who walk back and forth in front of here every day, and they aren’t bothered by the flags. They leave them alone,” he said.

Smith has pleaded innocent to the code violation, and the case is scheduled for a hearing at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 11 in front of Cercone.

(CatskillCommentator)