Must be the season of the 4th in Bristol once again. Take a walk through town and you will see people painting their houses, doing extensive landscaping, dressing up their homes with holiday regalia and just putting on their best faces.

And then you come across all the faded, worn, torn, frayed and sorry to say unsightly American flags on houses, buildings and public spaces. Shame on you Bristol. For a town that prides itself on this American holiday, you can and should do better.

Please show some respect to those men and women who proudly protect our flag and the freedoms you come to take for granted. And more importantly show some honor for all those men and women who left it all on the line and never made it home to celebrate another 4th with their families.

Paul J. Salesi
Senior Chief, USN (Ret.)
Bristol