Are the American flags on public buildings and grounds in your town flying at half-staff to honor Sen. Ted Kennedy, as ordered by President Obama?
Well, they aren't in my very Republican town and I did something about it.
Go below the jump & see what you can do.
OK, I realize this isn't an earth shattering topic, but it's about doing the right thing to honor the legacy of a great American.
On Wednesday, President Obama issued the following Presidential Proclamation:
DEATH OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Senator Edward M. Kennedy was not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy. Over the past half-century, nearly every major piece of legislation that has advanced the civil rights, health, and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. With his passing, an important chapter in our American story has come to an end.
As a mark of respect for the memory of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at
the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on August 30, 2009. I also direct that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of his interment. I further direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same periods at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
As I looked around my very Republican town in Illinois, no flags were at half-staff.
Yesterday morning, I called the Public Library and told them. They were uninformed and said they would take care of it. (When I passed by the library late yesterday afternoon, the flag had not been lowered.)
I called the superintendent's office of our local school district to inform them. They said they had to get their direction from the Illinois School Board of Education. I said, "But this is a Presidential Proclamation!" They said they would look into it. This morning, the flags were not flying at half-staff. So I called the Illinois School Board of Education in Springfield to determine if the order had to come from them. Guess what? It doesn't. (And in fact, all their flags in Springfield had been lowered to half-staff.) The kind gentleman I spoke with said he would personally call our superintendent and would also notify other school districts, just in case.
Next, I called City Hall. Again, they were "uninformed" so I forwarded the Presidential Proclamation to them.
If your town's flags are not at half-staff, I encourage you to take a couple of minutes to inform your officials of this Presidential Proclamation. We owe so much to Sen. Kennedy; it's the least we can do to make sure our towns honor him properly.
Now I'm off for my daily walk...and to check out the flag situation.