Flags Fly Again on MnDOT Bridges, Others May Follow

When The Minnesota Department of Transportation ordered a local VFW to remove flags VFW members had installed on a handful of bridges in Brooklyn Park, MnDOT says there was a public outcry.

MnDOT says state law forbids anyone placing items on state owned structures, but MnDOT announced the agency had found a solution to the problem.

The agency announced it would use state money to buy flags and have MnDOT crews install them.  A spokesman said each flag costs between $60 and $70.

Andrew Reinhardt had been organizing a public demonstration against the removal of the flags, but that event turned to a celebration, "This is a really positive story, showing people coming out, being patriotic, supporting the flag, supporting the troops."

One concern is the Federal Flag Code, which allows flags to be flown at night but only when properly illuminated. At least one of the flags installed on the bridges has no lighting. A MnDOT spokesman says the agency is aware that flying an unlit flag at night is a violation of federal law, and that MnDOT will comply with the Federal Flag Code by providing proper lighting, however, no time-table or cost estimate is known at this time.

In addition, MnDOT says other groups will now be able to request state installed flags on their bridges and infrastructure, but how those requests will be decided is still unknown.

 

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