To the editor:

To the Barrington Town Council: The Barrington United Veterans Council would like to express its opposition to the Town Council's recent decision to fly an unsanctioned non-governmental banner under the American flag on town properties. Of particular concern was the placement of the rainbow flag at the Barrington's Veterans Memorial without prior consultation or consideration.

It is the position of the United Veterans Council that the rainbow flag represents a political movement and it is our belief that the town’s American flag displays should remain apolitical. We feel that out of respect for the diversity of all the citizens of this municipality, partisan flags of political and social movements should not be flown under the American flag on public land. The Barrington United Veterans Council supports, and respects the rights and freedoms of all people regardless of race, gender and/or sexual orientation; however, we believe that only one banner, the American flag, can represent these ideals for all its citizens without any political bias or agenda.

Allowing the rainbow flag to be flown under the American flag on town properties establishes a bad precedent.  Other political entities will leverage this new policy to demand that their own banners receive similar recognition. It is not the town council’s authority to become the “de facto” arbiters of whose 1st Amendment rights are sanctioned and should receive official endorsement from the Town of Barrington. It should be noted that one group’s banner of pride could be viewed by another as a symbol of hate or oppression.

There is but one flag that represents all people of this great nation and it is the flag of the United States of America. It deserves the respect to fly freely, devoid of symbols of partisanship and unencumbered from any group’s political agenda.

Signed,

The Barrington United Veterans Council: Paul Dulchinos, William Groves, Charles Brule, Luigi Carusi, Al Girard, Frank Santoro, Bart Stanzione and Michael Tripp

Barrington