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Giant American Flag Spotted Laying on the Ground Before Obama University Event [Update: School Apologizes, Removes Picture, Then Backtracks]

Sep. 7, 2012 4:39am Benny Johnson

Giant American Flag Left on the Ground Before Obama Event at University of Iowa

President Barack Obama stands on stage after addressing the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012.Credit: AP

Update: ‘Nothing Improper Occurred’: College Spokesman Now Denies Flag Mistreated by Campaign at Obama Event — But Experts Say Otherwise

Today, President Obama is slated to travel to the University of Iowa to campaign in the crucial battleground state. The Obama campaign’s “advance team” has been making preparations for the president’s appearance since Monday, sources at the university tell TheBlaze.

But no one was prepared for the photo that was taken at the Obama speaking location as the Democratic National Convention wrapped up in Charlotte, N.C.

The photo is of the preparation for the president’s speech on the quad of the historic Iowa campus. In the near distance sits the stately old Iowa Capitol, and sitting on the ground, a gigantic American flag.

Credit: University of Iowa

The American Flag Code states clearly that the National Colors should never, ever touch the ground. Section 8 of the code is entitled “Respect for flag” and notates:

“No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.”

It continues:

“The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.”

The photo was posted on the University of Iowa’s official Facebook page with the caption: “Preparations continue on the Pentacrest for tomorrow’s Presidential visit.” The image has sparked outrage and disgust from many viewers.

Others argued that the commenters were overreacting and should give the union labor who staff these events a break. One annoyed person infers that the flag loses some respect when it is “made by little children in Asian countries making pennies a day.”

As per protocol, the Obama campaign has been in charge of the preparations for the speech, according to officials at the University of Iowa. However, at the time of publication, we had not heard back from the Obama campaign about whether the work to place the flags was contracted out. Visible in the picture is a forklift, a clear security perimeter and other various professional equipment. Also seen in the photo are what seem to be many workers milling about.

Flag code is comprised of a strictly enforced set of official regulations not to be trifled with. The preamble for the code states that there are harsh criminal penalties associated with violating or willfully disrespecting the American flag. The only exception is if there had been an executive order allowing a violation. The order must be in the form of a presidential proclamation.

Credit: Washington Times

Credit: AP

Credit: NASA

Credit: Veterans Of Foreign Wars

“The laws relating to the flag of the United States of America are found in detail in the United States Code. Title 4, Chapter 1 pertains to the flag; Title 18, Chapter 33, Section 700 regards criminal penalties for flag desecration; Title 36, Chapter 3 pertains to patriotic customs and observances. These laws were supplemented by Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations.”

UPDATE: The University of Iowa has just released this statement via Facebook and removed the original photograph:

After further outcry, the university attempted to clarify:

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Comments (432)

teddrunk
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:22am
Prior to his big speech did the caterers include Obama’s favorite food at the buffet table? Labrador Retriever.

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- seresmary
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 7:12pm
  The Flag a symbol of our Country and all it stands for, all who fought for it, shame on Iowa State, shame on the Obama Campaign but you know it really isn’t that surprising especially when you see the First lady and her girls at the Olympics wrapped in the flag of South Africa, whose first lady is she and who paid for her trip? or the fact that she and the President stood at attention as the flag went by and the First Lady leaned over and whispered sweet nothings into her husbands ear “all this for a damn flag” and he nodded in agreement, and as far as the comment by the flags being made in china by little girls, I make sure mine our made in the good ol USA including the one hanging up in the front of my house. And it really doesn’t surprise me when you have the majority and obvious majority standing yelling out their vote against “God” at the DNC convention 3x’s to the point ole Mayor Anthony Villarigossa didn’t know what to say, and Jerusalem was shouted down as the Capital of Israel as well. Just another example of Obama’s Presidency and his actions in taking down this country one piece at a time…. MaryS, CA
  
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- DrofSmoothnessVirginia
  Posted on September 9, 2012 at 1:44pm
  I find it interesting that the University of Iowa now says that the flag was placed upon plastic to keep it from touching the ground. I magnified my screen and not detect any evidence of plastic extending beyond the borders of the flag in order to “protect it” as the university stated in their latest explanation. It seems that everyone now plays fast and loose with the truth in order to cover their rear ends when they have been caught. But I shouldn’t be surprised since most centers of high education are bastions of liberal thought and as we have come to learn during this president’s administration, we certainly do not want to let the truth get in the way if you have a higher agenda.
  
  Report this comment
PeppermintCrush
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:16am
Star Spangled Banner; Madison Rising…. Awesome rendition.. if this doesn’t give you chills… enjoy!

http://youtu.be/c8C7i9kdEf8

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- isur5ed
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:15am
  Yeah, that’s not your mother’s Star Spangled Banner rendition, but it definitely exudes patriotism and the video adds all the more to remembering, remembering why I love this country so very much. I’m an Army Wife and I tear up every time I hear our National Anthem – even when it hear it 3 times in a week. Standing in my civies, surrounded by uniformed men and women – it is humbling and a feeling of gratitude washes over me every time.
  
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Detroit paperboy
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:15am
No big deal to them, they were gonna burn it anyways………………

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- TheFreddie
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:05pm
  Obama spits on our Flag every Chance that he Gets. He’s a Marxist Elitist, he hates every thing about Our Country except the Power it has given him. If he Cheats his way into a Re-election I’m afraid that there will be a Civil War, and we will end up just like the Hunger Games for our Future.
  
  Report this comment
huey6367
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:56am
Could it be that this is a euphemism for the death of our country?

This is disgraceful and people need to be held accountable.

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- BumperMorgan
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 12:09pm
  You are right, but they won’t be.
  
  Report this comment
- acidovorax
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:20pm
  HUEY wrote: “This is disgraceful and people need to be held accountable.”
  
  Accountable how? For what? Laying your property on the ground?
  
  The only thing disgraceful is the idolatry and blind reverence that conservatives grant the State.
  
  Report this comment
- Redcoat
  Posted on September 9, 2012 at 7:53am
  Not “euphemism”. I think you mean “metaphor “.
  
  Report this comment
Fla.Patriot
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:52am
You’re mistaken. That flag was’nt left there, it was placed there. It is what this administration is using to cover up the carcass of the Constitution

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lynn4
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:47am
This is a good example of why unions need to go. How about finishing the job at hand before you take a break? Why is the break more important than the job? I work jobs that aren’t unionized or controlled by break times. I work and I take a wee break when there is a BREAK in work. fluke the unions.

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Meyvn
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:45am
Shameful.

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- bjaclyn1
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 3:30pm
  Meyvn,Your exactly right not only is it shameful,also extremely disgusting!But what should you expect when an unknown comes into office refuses,to open up his school records!Plus other extremely important records Americans really know nothing,about his past!Expect that his friends are not the best Bill Ayers-weatherman underground,Van Joans,Louis Farakhan-Jew hater and Jerimah Wright-American hater and Jew hater.Plus hates Israel so what should Americans!He was taught by Wright for 20 years to hate America!Unfortunately Dictator Obama is good with his lies and a lot of people,still believe.In him no matter what he does in destroying America!
  
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mattbowen
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:39am
“Union workers needed a break.” I would love to give those idiots a break, around there neck and shoulders.

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- USALOVER2011
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 1:31pm
  Yup, me too!
  
  Report this comment
4RCOUNTRY
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:39am
Some people have no respect, they didn’t build it so why should they care!

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- Henry Hoskison
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:18pm
  THE Democrat party, does not care about OUR Country or our flag, that is why I left them in 1997,Ido not belong to any party or any church; I am Independent all the way; Hankthetank;
  
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hillbillyinny
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:12am
Typical lefty answer in the University’s response, “Union workers needed a break.”

Another reason to get RID OF UNIONS. They always think they’re more important than the country that gave them the right to form!

I learned as a Brownie Girl Scout back in the 50′s how to fold a flag and how to honor a flag. To this day, I have tried diligently not to let a flag of the United States of America that I own or have which I have control, be disrespected in this way or any other way!

However, I gave up on the Girl Scouts (as a leader) back in the 1980′s when they first endorsed women’s lib and what it stands for including birth control, abortion, etc.! Don’t understand the outrage today about Girl Scouts supporting groups such as Media Matters–it’s been going that way for many, many years and in many cases is controlled and led by people I would rather not have around girls I know and love!

Our flag is our symbol, and should be honored in a way that directly reflects our love for our Country and for each other!

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- jhaydeng
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:24am
  This is what happens when you stop teaching history correctly! What a joke!
  
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666Sucks
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:02am
Y’all need to quit your whining! They defeated America fair and square and they are entitled to loot, pillage, plunder, squander and trample all they want! They did what no army could ever do, and we let them! We know who are sports teams are, but not who’s in Congress. We follow snooky’s every move, but know nothing about agenda 21. We let schools hire the likes of Bill Ayers to brainwash our fiture, but get upset when some sports figure takes performance enhancing Drugs! WE DID THIS TO OURSELVES!

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- 000degrees
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:12am
  The “good men” who do nothing are as much to blame. Too many “good men” worried about what someone might say about them if they speak up….
  
  Report this comment
- RustyElbows
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:28am
  Well put !!!
  
  Report this comment
- woodyee
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:23am
  Amen, brother! You said – “We know who are sports teams are, but not who’s in Congress.” That’s EXACTLY what I would say to my coworkers prior to clocking in at work. I managed to turn a few around, but most were young and ignorant. Probably still are ignorant…sad…
  
  Your reward -hehe! Check out Obama-girl, recanting support. It’s from 2010, but boy is she…
  
  http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/01/28/obama-girl-tells-hannity-least-i-wasnt-edwards-girl
  
  Report this comment
- Ramv36
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:41am
  Exactly right. I’m still under 30, and people look at me like I’m an alien when they ask about this or that sport and I reply “Politics is the only sport I follow, and it’s the only sport adults should participate in. While you were memorizing meaningless stats for your favorite team, you lost this, this, and this right.”
  They look at me like I’m crazy and ask me about some reality show idiocy…that’s when I tell them I don’t own a TV or have cable and they think I’m REALLY strange!
  They’re mostly the same people who think throwing a ping pong ball into a cup is a skill, that getting drunk/high every night is normal, and that having/cheating on multiple women at once is not only acceptable, but admirable and enviable. In other words, they’re not adults despite their age…they’re BROS.
  
  Report this comment
- tmb2bjb
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:56am
  666SUCKS your are right on the money and you hit the nail on the head…apathy and rebelliousness has sent our country down the tubes. The likes of Obama and his left wing ilk would not have had a chance if the citizens of this country were alert and had the right priorities. Actually, several of our last presidents would not have made it to the top if we were alert and took our heads out of the sand. Political correctness is disgusting at best and dangerous at worst. An issue that is never addressed in depth—the shedding of innocent blood, the millions of unborn babies murdered in their mothers’ wombs. Don’t tell me its “my body my choice” don’t the unborn have the same right?–oh wait! I forgot its not a baby its a fetus. Again, rhetoric that justifies the horrors that a self indulgent, my-way-only society gets by. Well, dear fellow citizens you got what you wanted, sadly you won’t have a choice if O gets re-elected, your life as you know it will come crashing down around you. Freedom of speech as we now know it will disappear and all you outspoken ex-hippies will be in deep trouble if you rebel against the dictator’s plans; senior citizens won’t have to worry because their generation, (except those able to live without medical care), will meet their natural end; termination of unwanted pregnancies will increase; people will earn what they need not what they are worth, etc., etc., desecration of the flag at this point will be a moot point! God Help us!
  
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- Taquoshi
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 4:40pm
  Who is Snooki and why should I care?
  
  Report this comment
- TheFreddie
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:08pm
  You are Correct, We are Getting the Government we Deserve!
  
  Report this comment
AverageBear
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:45am
A clear illustration the people that we are dealing with. Whether they are incompetent or clueless becomes less and less relevant. We need to replace them in positions of authority.

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- americansfightingforcommonsense
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:02am
  Exactly, I’m sure this was a bunch of UNION workers who don’t care about flag protocol or rules. Well, except they believe in the “Rules For Radicals”.
  
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- SovereignSoul
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 1:15pm
  …and how do Bush and Palin feel about protocol when they autograph the flag? There are people on both sides of the aisle the respect themselves much more than the flag.
  
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- RSHLUVER
  Posted on September 9, 2012 at 1:02am
  This is another example of how infested with liberalism institutions of higher education are.
  
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:44am
It’s not surprising that they left a flag on the ground. What’s surprising is that they had a flag of these united States there to begin with!

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- WindyDualism
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:27am
  Have to maintain the facade for a while longer. The union wankers would show more respect to the UN flag.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 9:27am
  GHOST, Its a mere prop for this gang.
  
  Report this comment
kentuckypatriot
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:38am
I’m suprised the campaign didn’t try and use the flags with it’s face on it.

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teddrunk
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:33am
Hey, at least the Democrats didn’t burn it or wipe their backside with it like they normally do.

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yiddishlion
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:25am
You are all mistaken…….that is the proverbial red carpet for Bill Ayers when he arrives…….

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woodyee
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:13am
They could have very easily left it in it’s packaging until they were ready to hoist it up. I’ve seen it done dozens of times. This behavior is just a product of the lazy, self-aggrandizing “entitled” PUBLIC union mentality at work.

Have you ever tried to correct a PUBLIC union employee? Try correcting a “teacher” sometime…

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biohazard23
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:11am
Telling, indeed.

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The Jewish Avenger
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:05am
Its one of the first things I taught the kids about the flag….

Geesh.

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Cavallo
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:02am
What does that flag really stand for anymore? Should we care? Does it represent the idea that we might someday be free? We certainly aren’t free now. Currently IF that flag is the flag of the government it stands for restriction of speech, confiscation of property, restriction of religion, militarization of domestic law enforcement, restriction of travel, and tight controls on making a living, restrictions on obtaining the energy needed to live, and forcing citizens to purchase products the government wants you to purchase. At what point does the population realize that the symbols of the State are now representing oppression rather than freedom? It sickens me that so many good men might have died for what they thought was a symbol of freedom in vain.

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- fight_back
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:19am
  CAVALLO-
  
  No one dies in vain in less you allow them too, which by the sounds of it, you’ve thrown in the towel. America made a mistake when they elected Obama…obviously. We have an opportunity to correct that mistake or, take your stance. Hopefully most Americans haven’t quit (Obama’s hoping for) and still believe, the government belongs to us, we do not belong to the government.
  
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- drummer_deep
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:39am
  no military man/woman dies in vain….though the flag may have different meanings for different people any person in uniform knows that it stands for freedom and for the morals which this great country was founded on even if the government has strayed from them our men and women still fight everyday on the principle that one day these morals will prevail
  
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- RobbieTLHughie
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 12:51pm
  You’re not… Free… Now? What the Hell?
  
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suz
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 5:36am
i think that was placed there.

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Bill Rowland
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 5:27am
Do you really think that this administration cares, Thet have broken so many laws and disregarded the constitution so many times that they consider this a very minor violation. Besides Michelle doesn’t like our flag or what it stands for. She wants a personal flag for Sweet Old Barack, King of the US and President forever.

OMG Nov 6, 2012

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:29am
  No they have no respect for our national flag; not the Obama’s nor their followers among the DNC or the Universities….nothing but an deliberate and calculated insult to the flag itself and thus our own nation as a whole.
  
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the old plumber
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 5:20am
on the ground so that they can walk all over it like they have walked all over us,This bunch of left wing pains need to go NOW!

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WAR PIGS CRAWLING
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 5:11am
I’m calling bull crap on this one……there are so many egregious, disrespectful, middle fingers the POTUS has directed toward this country, but this is not one…I am an Order of the Arrow Boy Scout, Marine, American Legion member who loves this country, and I have seen the flag in worse predicaments….YES, it would have been nice if there were 20 color guard members present to hold the flag, BUT that isn’t always possible….If you want an example of Obama disrespecting the country….just listen to him speak.

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- ONLY4UANDME
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 6:45am
  Geeezzzzz, WAKE UP!
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-ZYxEBImEo
  
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- team1blazer
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 12:30pm
  You can call bull crap all you want; I’ll call your post bull crap. If you really were OA and a marine, then you know this is a disrespect of the flag and a flagrant flag code violation. I agree that Obama has done much worse (many treasonous offenses), but that does not make this offense any less offensive to real Americans. By the way, thank you for your service.
  
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- grayling646
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 1:43pm
  You can always find something more disrespectful than the subject you’re talking about. That doesn’t excuse the disrespect of the subject you’re talking about. If you could, whatever subject we’re discussing wouldn’t be disrespectful.
  
  Report this comment
- goengo
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:24am
  Of couse this is disrespectful. If you were a boy scout, a marine, etc., you would know that the flag should be folded – it does not need to ever touch the ground! If these workers could not handle that task, they should have used a smaller prop (er, excuse me, I meant “flag” of couse.), or no flag at all. It is immensely clear that BHO does not love this country or its flag; otherwise, he would not feel the need to “fundementally transform the United States of America” as he has repeatedly said. Fundementally means, as defined by the dictionary, to change in ALL manners, or to change the underlying base. We are a country founded on freedom, with a free-market economy that is the best in all the world. BHO, and his Czars hate our America, and are trying to destroy the country we love.
  
  The word “Czars” is an interesting one in itself, as it comes from Russia before the Bolshevik (sp?) Revolution. There is Russia again….BHO’s favored ally, along with Iran and other countries hostile to the US.
  
  Report this comment
- SadVietNamVet
  Posted on September 9, 2012 at 7:27pm
  What exactly are you listening to sir? If you hate the President or disagree with him, are you really going to be able to hear what he is saying? Please try and be specific. Semper Fi
  
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GlennaBeckski
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 5:04am
Our flag, like the American people is nothing more than a prop for these heathens to further their true agenda.

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- encinom
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 3:23pm
  You are right, the GOP and FOxnews, instead of talking about real issues have created bogus issues around flags and lapel pins.
  
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- fande3rls
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 4:37pm
  YEs encom . lets talk about the TREASON obama and his minons are commiting against the constitution every day
  
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- frust@ted
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:17pm
  Oh yeah Encinom and like the democrats aren’t doing that as well. Both sides need to stop playing into these non issues that distract from real problems that need to change. You just keep chasing that carrot on a stick.
  
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