Editor,

After missing many years of celebrating our Independence Day on Whidbey Island, I was here for this year’s celebration.

It was a great sight to see so many flags being passed out and pleasing to see how eager the crowds were to grab them and wave them high. The pride I felt was soon turned to gloom as I watched many of the flags being thrown to the ground as the parade procession continued.

The total disrespect shown to the flag was horrifying.  It was commonplace for the crowd to walk all over the flags and even let their pets use them as a blanket to lie on.

I would suggest that, as the candies and other tokens are thrown out, in lieu of tossing them to the crowd in general, that the tokens are given only to those who are holding the flags high. Perhaps then there will not be so many of the flags thrown to the ground.

Clint Dunn, retired Navy
Dayton, Idaho