Opinion: Take Down Patriots Flag Flown Below U.S. Flag In Foxboro

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The following letter to the editor is from Ronald Rogers, of the Access to Public Lands and Waters, a nonprofit group in Foxborough. The letter was also sent to the selectmen and requests that the New England Patriots flag flown below the U.S. flag in the Foxborough Common be taken down:

"The purpose in writing this letter is to express our deep concern over flying the Patriots’ Logo flag under the American flag in the Foxboro common.

We represent a sizable and growing number of military Veterans here in Foxboro and the greater Foxboro area. Lets us first say that we love Foxboro, the surrounding area and the New England Patriots!

It is very gratifying to here news media personnel and sportscasters talk about "what’s going on down in Foxboro and the Patriots."

That being said, there has been a growing concern and discussion surrounding the display of the Patriot’s Logo under the American flag here at the town common. We deeply love and honor the American flag and ALL it stands for.

We fought and sacrificed for it!

Our common was converted to a multipurpose “Memorial Park” back in 1984. It was dedicated by the Korea-Vietnam Memorial Committee, and others. The memorial pays homage to those from Korea-Vietnam Lebanon-Granada, Panama and the "Persian Gulf. Efforts got underway in 2017 to design and create a memorial to those that sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Right there for all to see is a plaque that reads "In Memory of All Who served," with the shields of the American Legion and VFW, then, at the bottom, "Dedicated Memorial Day 1984." On the other side is the emblem of POW_MIA!

Also by the monument is a flagpole, with a metal plaque on it, stating, that the new flags pole was "Dedicated to the people of Foxboro May 29, 1989 by Foxboro Troop 32 Boy Scouts of America" with a list of donors following.

So you can see that the park has taken on an even more special meaning over the last few decades. The town, towns people, donors and even the boy scouts have spent their own time and money to make it special.

We can appreciate the value and the relationship between the Town of Foxboro and the New England Patriots’ organization. We certainly understand the bond between the town and the Patriots organization. We are very good for each other!

However, we feel strongly that the town has shown disrespect to the American Flag, our Veterans, first responders and anyone that honors the values that this great country stands for! In the US flag code, section 8, paragraph (i) is states in part "advertising signs should not be fastened to the staff or lanyard from which the US flag is flown."

We want and expect that the flag is respected at all times. We would like to see the town common “memorial flag pole” flying only the US flag in respect for all memorialized below it.

We suggest that another flag pole be erected at town hall, so we can fly the Boy Scouts and the Patriots logo flag. It would allow us to show our pride for our relationship with our friends at the New England Patriots without disrespecting the American flag on the common."