Towson Library Flag Position Due To 'Crossed Wires': Official

TOWSON, MD — A man who was walking by the Towson library branch this week said he was shocked by its flag. The American flag was at full staff, he said, not lowered as ordered by presidential proclamation to honor the late Sen. John McCain.

First, the passerby said he called the library and was told that it does not follow federal proclamations.

Next, he told Patch he contacted the county executive's office and was informed that the library is a quasi-governmental agency, and the staff would relay his concern.

Finally, he reached out to a congressman, and ultimately, he shared his picture with Towson Patch.

"I am a Democrat who has respect for the late Senator McCain and believe the least they can do is lower the flag in tribute to him," Tony Oleszczuk told Patch.

It turns out that the position of the flag had nothing to do with federal protocol, which the Baltimore County Public Library does follow.

"It is just a matter of crossed wires and timing," according to Linda Frederick, marketing manager for Baltimore County Public Library.

During the course of a roof replacement project over the past several months, Frederick said the flags were taken down, and the flagpole was damaged.

"Nobody knew" the flagpole was damaged, she explained, until someone on the operations staff tried to lower the flag in accordance with the presidential proclamation and discovered the flag cord was broken.

The flag was "jerry-rigged" on Tuesday to get it to half-staff, according to Frederick, who said it will remain that way until Tuesday, when the new cord arrives.

Across the nation, the lowering of the flag this week was a source of controversy.

U.S. Flag Code calls for flags to be lowered on the day of death and the following day for a member of Congress, which was observed in this case. But presidents have issued proclamations in the past to have flags remain at half staff until the burial of a U.S. senator who dies in office.

President Donald J. Trump did not call for the flags to remain lowered longer than the two days, prompting groups — including the American Legion and AMVETS — to urge him to show more respect for McCain, a Navy pilot captured during the Vietnam War who was tortured for more than five years.

Trump issued a proclamation Monday, Aug. 27, that the flag be lowered in honor of McCain "as a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of Senator John Sidney McCain III."

The proclamation said that flags should be "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 the day of interment."

The longtime Arizona Republican, who died Saturday following a long battle with Glioblastoma, will be buried with full military honors Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy cemetery in Annapolis.

This article contains reporting from Patch national editors Dan Hampton and Beth Dalbey.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include new information from the Baltimore County Public Library regarding damage to the flagpole.

SEE ALSO:

• John McCain Funeral Services: Dates, Locations And Livestreams
• White House Lowers Flag Again After McCain Flap: Report
• John McCain Public Procession: Time, Route, Livestream
• Video: John McCain Lies In State At Arizona State Capitol
• Trump Still Won't Call McCain ‘Hero,' Makes 1st Public Statement
• John McCain, War Hero And Senate Icon, Dead At 81

Photo courtesy of Tony Oleszczuk.