Harold "Sparky" Songer Flies US (American Flag) Upside Down as a Distress Signal

In news from Danville, Eastern Illinois a Veteran has deliberately decided to fly the American Flag upside down, but insists he isn't meaning to upset anyone. The http://www.news-gazette.com reports that Songer has chosen to fly the US Flag outside the Vermilion County War Museum in Danville as a distress signal.

Songer believes that the government in Washington, DC are not showing appropriate support for the nation's military. Songer now 86 said "Those in the service are already having trouble keeping their families together, they're gone through so much, and the number of suicides is a disgrace, and some have lost their homes and can't find jobs when they do come home." 


Songer is Director of the Vermilion County War Museum and is a veteran of three wars. Commenting Songer said " "I'd just had enough, so I stopped talking about it and did it."


In US Military tradition the US Flag is flown upside down as a sign of distress. Songer believes there is a distress situation now and said ""Things are such a mess in Washington. The whole country is in extreme distress." 


The upside down flag has received numerous complaints from other veterans and members of the general public alike.

Vietnam Veteran Seeking $1,500 for Memorial Flags and Flagpoles

Daryl Hicks, a Vietnam veteran is seeking help to raise $1,500 for erecting flagpoles and displaying flags in Uhrichsville, PA, USA.

Hicks is attempting to buy six flagpoles, one to display the USA Flag and five more to display the various branches of the military.



The Vietnam War Memorial in Uhrichsville Park is to be dedicated on Memorial Day. The Memorial itself is being stored in Hicks' garage.

If you want a brick to be insribed for any Veteran (not just Vietnam), send a check for $50 per brick addressed to Daryl Hicks at 1099 Beech Street, Mount Vernon OH 43050, USA. Hicks can also be contacted on 740-501-7072.

People are asked to include the veteran’s name and area of military service for each brick. Hicks said for each $50 people can have up to three lines with 15 characters maximum per line inscribed.

US Flag on Driving Licenses to Give Discounts to Oklahoma Veterans

The Oklahoma House panel has approved a measure, which will allow the American flag emblem to be displayed on the driving licenses of war veterans.

Jerry Shoemake, a Republican in the Oklahoma House of Representatives said that the display of the American flag emblem on a Veterans driving license would ensure it was convenient for them to demonstrate their entitlement to veterans discounts.

It is likely that the driving licenses of Oklahoma residents will have the American flag emblem placed on their licenses with effect from November 1, 2012.



The public safety department has been tasked with finding a way to pay for the new measure.

US Flag returned to Veterans Family

In Rochester, New York, USA a flag has been returned to the family of a war veteran, ironically they didn't even know the flag was missing!


Jason Wallace, of Rochester, received the American flag from a friend. The US flag which was enclosed in a case had been purchased at an auction in Wells, Maine. Wallace became determined to try and find the owner as the flag in case belonged to a World War II Veteran.



Through the help of WMUR Channel 9 viewer the flag was reinstated with the owner who didn't even know it was missing. “I’m just thrilled to have it back,” Paul Grady said on Saturday 26 March. “My daughter Kailyn got a message on Facebook from a girl named Shannon, who happened to see the news story,” Grady explained. “I just can’t thank him enough. A lot of people wouldn’t have bothered to do anything, and he (Wallace) made the effort and I really appreciate it,” said Grady.

The flag in a presentation case had belonged to the father of Grady, Austin Grady who passed away in 2004.

Source: http://www.wmur.com/r/27333577/detail.html