Dear Editor:

I am writing out of dismay for the deplorable state of several publicly displayed American flags on the Route 96/Ocean Point Road leading to East Boothbay.

What started as an honorable gesture of patriotism by mounting numerous flags on the roadway on telephone poles has devolved into an inadvertent but shameful display of disrespect. There are several tattered and shredded flags remaining on poles in East Boothbay snagged on the sides of the poles. In front of my house hangs an upside down flag, devoid of its pole hanging like a discarded dishrag from a cross wire.

I had always felt that a greater sign of respect was a single majestic flag rising high on a pole on a piece of public property than many small flags stuck on every telephone pole subject to tearing and damage.

I’m not sure who would be responsible, but something should be done.

Douglas I. Louison

East Boothbay