New Rochelle Veterans Fly 'Gadsden Flag' at Legion Hall

The controversy over the removal of the Gadsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag became more public Friday when Peter Parente arranged for a 10-by-14-foot representation of the flag to be displayed on the facade of the American Legion Post 8 building at 112 North Ave.

"The message we want to send out to Mayor (Noam) Bramson is, 'Don't Tread on Us,' " Parente, of the United Veterans Memorial & Patriotic Association, said, after the artwork was unveiled. "The veterans are willing to defend themselves."

The original Gadsden flag depicts a rattlesnake coiled to strike with the words "Don't Tread on Me" underneath it. The banner shows a more realistic version of the snake with the fangs pointed toward the viewer.

The New Rochelle City Council recently voted to have the Gadsden flag removed from the Armory flag pole, prompting the protests from the veteran's group.

Artist Scott LoBaido said he heard about the controversy and was moved to offer his services.

"I have disdain for people who try to evade our history," the Staten Island resident said. "It's an American flag."

Parente said his group has been getting nothing but support from around the nation that they should be allowed to fly the flag at the Armory.

Councilman Louis Trangucci, R-District 1, tried to get the City Council to vote at its April 9 meeting to put the flag back up.

Only Trangucci and Councilman Albert Tarantino, R-District 2, voted in favor of the motion.

Councilwoman Shari Rackman, D-District 6, said the flag pole was on city-owned property and therefore governed by city rules.

"I don't think any group without special permission has the right (to put up a flag of their choosing)," she said.

Parente said the large representation of the Gadsden flag will remain on the Legion building until the city returns their flag, which he said was confiscated and is being held at City Hall, and allows it to be flown over the Armory.

"We want them to put it back on the flag pole where it rightly deserves to be," he said.

City Manager Charles Strome III said the veterans group has the required permit to display on a privately owned building, located at 112 North Ave.

"So it is fine that it is hanging there," he said.

Strome said that the group's flag has been in the public works commissioner's office since it was removed after the City Council formally voted not to allow it to be flown.

"The veterans were informed that they could pick it up at any time City Hall is open," he said. "To date, they have not come to pick it up."