Letter To The Editor

To The Editor:

On January 10, 2017 my wife and I attended the monthly meeting of the New Lebanon Town Board. I brought up the subject of the Town being the only municipal building I had seen in recent weeks not flying the American flag . This came to my attention as I travel many miles throughout Columbia and Rensselaer counties admiring Old Glory flying in the breeze high and proud. This is the symbol of our freedom earned so costly by our brave men and women of the armed forces.

I thought it might have just been overlooked by the county employees, but was told by the Supervisor that the man in charge of this task thought it would be better if the flag was not put out until more favorable weather arrived. Also the Town does not have proper night time lighting, which would make it necessary to remove the flag at night and raise it again after sunrise. I even offered to donate the cost of a flag if finances was the problem. And a solar flag light certainly would not break the budget and that would eliminate the need for any further raising and lowering of our national symbol.

I got home and my thoughts went to soldiers leaping into the frigid ocean while landing at Normandy, and the sight of soldiers wading in chest deep waters in Vietnam. Also more presently the brave men and women marching in the sand parched deserts of Iraq far, far from families and homes.

I believe that raising and lowering a flag once a day is a small sacrifice to make as we go home to our warm homes to sit with our families and friends. I voted and campaigned on my own for many of the current board members. If you think New Lebanon should follow the lead of all other municipalities and schools and veterans organizations in this Town, please drop them a line and tell them how you feel. I did my part but was met with an unsuitable answer about something so important to me as a Navy Vet and a man who proudly flies Old Glory night and day in support of our brave troops.

Thank you,

Timothy E. Laraway, USN Veteran

Route 20, New Lebanon