Editor, The Independent:
In March 2015 a “Petition for Flags/Holders on Veterans Graves” located in Owosso Charter Township’s Oak Grove Cemetery, in conformance with MCL 35.831 was delivered to the township supervisor during their regular meeting.
The petition included a list of graves of veterans that appeared to need: A flag or a flag holder or both a flag and a flag holder. That has worked out to 17 new flag holders (five of those have an old flag holder, too) that were petitioned for. There are three graves that were petitioned for and still have old flag holders, but no flags. There are seven graves that were petitioned for but still have neither flags nor flag holders. There are 23 graves that were petitioned for that have flags, but no flag holders. There are seven or eight that have flags and/or flag holders that are not even military.
At an earlier Township Board meeting the clerk stated she didn’t think they would even need 10 new flag holders. She found out that wasn’t quite right. I’m sorry, I just can’t help myself.
They purchased 20 new flag holders and 50 new flags. There are around 140 veterans graves. I think the petition covered around 100 graves. I can only imagine the performance I would so dearly have loved to witness as these dunderheads put these flags and holders out. I just can’t help myself. I wonder if they can even read. Well, apparently not, they obviously did not even read the petition.
Late breaking news: apparently the supervisor did not share the petition with any of the people who placed flags/holders on the graves. Working blind, they didn’t do so bad, but just goes to show.
Kay Lorraine-Lauro, Bennington Township