Government

Did This City Really Ban People From Putting Flags Near the Graves of Vets?

“The Mineral Wells City Council is reconsidering an ordinance that bans flags from being displayed at the graves of veterans at any time other than two weeks around Memorial Day and Veterans Day,” CBS DFW report.

“The ordinance, which was passed last week, includes a host of regulations concerning what can be placed around city graves. Teddy bears and statues must be removed 21 days after the funeral. Mourners cannot place flowers near a gravesite unless they’re in a vase,” the report adds.

Okay, wait. We have two questions:

  1. What made council members think this was a good idea?
  2. How did they intend to enforce it?

The Cemetery Board pitched the idea to the City Council last week and, apparently, nobody thought that regulating the small comfort of putting flowers or a flag on a grave would, you know, really, really upset some people.

Of course, there was a backlash and of course City Manager Lance Howerton maintains the council didn’t mean any disrespect.

“When a veteran tells you they love the flag more than life itself, they mean it,” said Robert Veach, an Army veteran whose father’s grave is located at Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells.

Veach was among a group of veterans who were unhappy with the ordinance and took their complaint to the city council.

“Maybe we have to raise the flag a little so it would be easier to weed-eat and mow,” Veach said. “It’s a symbol of the country; we can’t let it go without a fight. We can’t.”

Comments (81)

1 2
  • Bill Rowland
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:10am

    Texas is going out of its way to attract businesses (jobs) from other states like CA, NY, MA and IN.
    When these outsiders move here because ot taxes and the cost of living they bring their liberal (Government knows best) philosophy with them. The first thing they do is to try to change things to immitate where they came from. We see it all the time, they want to turn TX into the state they left because of the things they are trying to implement..

    OMG Nov 6,2012

    Report Post »  
    • happ77
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:34am

      Its like Mark Levin said. These people are like
      locusts they ruin one state and then move
      on to ruin another.

      Report Post »  
    • stumpy68
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:09am

      Ive been watching this happen in Maine for the last
      30 + years liberals vacation in Maine claim to love it
      buy a house then proceed to change thing so their new home is
      just like the one they left it stated with the larger towns
      and has been spreading outward.

      Report Post » stumpy68  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:44am

      California migration killed WA State in the 70′s.

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:04pm

      I think the cemetery people were thinking more about decor than anything else. Removing a teddy bear 21 days after after a funeral is maybe not too much to ask.

      The flowers in the vase is. Unless the are plastic the flowers will decompose.

      I think the big problem here is that the park/cemetery officials did not take into account public input & only thought about there own concerns.

      Report Post »  
    • Michelle44
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:09pm

      THe Muslims from other countries do the same thing,, they love their homeland and want to change the US for not conforming to their needs and wants,, why did they move here in the first place?? GO BACK,, WHY STAY,,?

      Report Post »  
    • garylee123
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:48pm

      It’s the same with the coward illegals. If they had guts they would stay and try to change the hellhole they came from. The VFW should make sure there is a flag on every vets grave there every day.

      Report Post »  
    • Shasta
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:27pm

      There is a large number of Californians who believe like most of you, in God, country, small government, self-responsibility, low taxes, helping neighbors, charity, etc. In fact, There just is not enough of us. If you were to visit my rural republican county in Ca, you would have a hard time believing that you were in this awful state and not Tx or the like. But when California politicians do something stupid, because the majority of Ca voters vote these idiots in, you all say “Califonians get what they deserve for living in California. I hope they fall into the ocean”. I don’t vote for these anti-American democrat clowns into office., just the opposite. Thanks to the good people in my county, our congressmen is a republican and has been for as long as I can remember. Yet if we find a way to get to hell out of this terrible state, you all say “Californians should stay in Ca because they they will just **** up our wonderful state if they come here”. For you all to say that all Californians are ALL screwed up, or ALL of any type people are ALL ANYTHING, is ridiculous. If you all are as stupid and mean as you sound, I think I would be better off to stay here and suffer. But there are a lot of good people in this state, fighting the good fight, that are tired of being lumped into this progressive category that YOU ALL put us ALL into. Oh wait, it probably isn’t all of you, is it?

      Report Post » Shasta  
    • Bob From District 9
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:36pm

      You need the immigrants to bring down your debt per capita ratio. It’s way up there.

      Plus bring up your average educational level.

      Report Post »  
    • ARSILHOUETTE
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:14pm

      I totally agree, I saw it when Southern Californians moved into Northern CA and than again when they moved into Northern NV. Locust is a good word for them. As it says in the bible…..evil always follows good.

      Report Post »  
    • kat747
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:35am

      Would it be possible for ALL of the liberals from NY CA MA and IN to be moved to Texas ? Since Rick Perry and Geo Bush like that immigation thing so much, we could then cut off the State of Texas and give it to Mexico. Then we will see how the liberals and the ACLU deal with the Mexican Drug Cartel and how eash it will be to boss them around to their liberal way of thinking.

      Report Post »  
    • PelositheGreat
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:19am

      mayor@mineralwellstx.gov

      Report Post »  
    • toto
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:42pm

      That’s the same thing the Mexicans and other Latin American illegal immigrants are trying to do to the whole country. Ask the American Indians how well no immigration control worked for them.

      Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:22am

    WAIT!!!!!!!!! Cemeteries are private property, people purchase and own that plot of land for their loved one, its theirs, they can put what they want on it, tell the city to go to hell !

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
  • I.Heart.America
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:31am

    The Reaganite Republican

    http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/

    Report Post » I.Heart.America  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:04am

    Replace the flags when they get faded or torn. Do NOT ban them except for certain days.

    Report Post » Elena2010  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:10am

      And what certain days would that be? I can‘t really think of a single day that doesn’t demand an American flag be flown. I think city council needs to hold a re-vote and those that dissent need to be voted out when the time comes.

      Report Post »  
    • Charles
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:52am

      Sorry “grandmaof5” I couldn’t help myself with your question. The only day I can think of is the day President Obama was sworn in. ;) Sadly my birthday :{

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:08pm

      Oh, Charles, he ruined your birthday!???! You‘re right and I bet he wouldn’t fly our American flag over the WH if he didn’t have to – he would fly that ridiculous flag with his picture on it.

      Report Post »  
    • hayesstephen
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:18pm

      You are a died in the wool cluck. What days should they not be displayed? I mean after all its OUR COUNTRY FLAG, PLACED ON A VETERANS GRAVE. Gee maybe you’re thinking it might affend some minority? Minority are not the majority who support FLYING OUR COUNTRY’S FLAG YOU CLUCK. In the name of common sense which I see you have none, think before you post.

      Report Post »  
  • antrancher
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:30pm

    Isn’t a gravesite owned by family of the dead? Last I heard you paid taxes on it if prepaid before you die. It is considered your property. If this isn’t true with VA Cemeteries, I would think it may be a good idea not to be buried there. I am owned by the government in life. I think I will skip them owning me after I die.

    Report Post »  
  • MCDAVE
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:10pm

    Government has no right to dictate what can or cannot be placed at grave sites…how we honor our departed loved ones is a individual choice

    Report Post »  
  • MA_Muffley
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:05pm

    Thanks for the info. I sent my email.

    Report Post »  
  • ICEDRAGON
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:01pm

    Remove the counsel one way or the other. But they shall not disgrace the Vets of this nation. I don’t care is they are hippie. The Vets have paid a price that these butt busters haven’t a clue about.

    Report Post » ICEDRAGON  
  • Compound
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:35pm

    There are rights, and then there are lefts?

    Report Post »  
    • hayesstephen
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:21pm

      Shut the hell you idiot, grown ups are having an intelligent conversation. Go play on face book with a bunch of ten year old’s.

      Report Post »  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:29pm

    BYE BYE in nov,no matter what you say or do.

    Report Post »  
  • TennBill
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:28pm

    They need to visit Jonesborough Tennessee to see how we honor our veterans. Each light pole in the downtown area has 2 American flags on it that are sponsored every year by individual townspeople in honor of an American Veteran. Each flag is changed twice a year and they are lit 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I am proud pf our town and very proud to live here. God Bless America!

    Report Post »  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:07pm

    Mineral Wells needs to vote out their City Council ASAP! Shame, shame on you people! My God in Heaven these people died forus and others.. get the hell out of our country! You aren‘t American’s!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • sooner12
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:20pm

      I can’t believe that this happened in Texas. My sympathies texas vets.

      Report Post »  
    • hayesstephen
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:28pm

      California is a poll of filfth,its gotten so bad that the people who made that way are fleeing to Oregon, now a clone of Cal, Washington State, another clone, Nevada becoming a clone, Texas soon to fall as the other in this list. They are a cancer. White Liberal Trash are a disease and a mental illness. They are determined to destroy our Beautiful Country, God Save our Glorious Republic.

      Report Post »  
  • TreeTrimmerJim
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:03pm

    Ignorance of our nation’s history is a nationwide problem. Get to your local school board meeting, to your teacher parent meeting and make sure your school is teaching our history. When we know our history, we will know where we came from, the path we traveled and the price our buddies, parents, grandparents and forefathers paid.

    When we know our history we will know the answer to simple questions like when did segregation begin and end in the United States?

    Report Post » TreeTrimmerJim  
    • routnom23
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:47am

      Here’s what they learn in History class. George Wahington owned slaves, Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, Americans killed millions of Japanese with nuclear weapons. We are bad, bad, bad.

      Report Post »  
  • Truth Wins Every Time
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:02pm

    PVC pipe. Just big enough to hold flag dowel. PVC pipe is then super glued to back or side of headstone. You only need about a 6 inch piece of pipe. Make sure pipe has a stopper on bottom to stop flag from falling through. Also, find a square flower holder, again super glue to side of head stone. Make sure flower holder has drain holes in bottom.
    If Cemetary goes to remove either, they damage head stone. You can make them buy and replace.

    Report Post »  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:06am

      Excellent idea :-D

      Report Post » Elena2010  
    • JustAboutHadIt
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:51am

      I would cover the entire grave site that I own with American flags…as many as I could and if they dare say a word to me, tell them to go piss up a stump. I’m so sick of this crap that I could puke. What happened to this country?

      Report Post »  
  • TomSawyer
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:00pm

    What was really going through their liberal heads: We don‘t care about respecting veteran’s graves but we don‘t want anyone to know that because we would all lose our jobs and then we would actually have to work for a living and not control other people’s behavior and trick them into transforming their country into something they don’t want.

    Report Post »  
  • Hickory
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:45pm

    Liberal pieces of **** absolutely meant disrespect. This is the same kind of crap we vets went through in the 60s when we came home. I challenge all vets to smack the **** out of any dirt bag that tries to remove those flags. Are you with me?

    Report Post » Hickory  
    • randy
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:58pm

      And this is in TEXAS?

      Report Post » randy  
    • randy
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:00pm

      Lance Howerton
      Administration
      Title: City Manager
      Phone: (940) 328-7700
      Email citymanager@mineralwellstx.gov

      Report Post » randy  
    • dawghowse
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:03pm

      I’m with you! I’ll take your 6

      Report Post » dawghowse  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:37pm

      Thanks .. shooting him an email .. yes I used “shooting” on purpose ;-)

      God Bless OUR VETS!!! Living and deceased deserve all the respect in the world not this cr*p.

      Report Post »  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:40pm

    What country am I in..?

    Report Post » sawbuck  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:50pm

      U.S.S.A

      United Socialist States of America. November 6th Taking it BACK!

      Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:40pm

    For some reason we cannot see the videos on THE BLAZE. This has been going on for at least a week. (sigh) So, we miss much information in the stories, like this one

    Is this Mineral Wells in Texas? Dear God in Heaven.

    Recall the heads-up-their-butts city council people and replace them with PATRIOTS, then fly our flag,

    Report Post »  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:48pm

      upgrade your flashplayer dear

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:26am

      @psycosis~~~

      Thank you darlin’, but that’s not the problem. Wish it were that simple.

      Report Post »  
  • cassandra
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:40pm

    Remember what michelle said we have to change our history we have to change our traditions

    Report Post »  
    • kat747
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:42pm

      That is the result of smoking pot and taking too many drugs in college.
      Another anti-American.

      Report Post »  
    • Hickory
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:21pm

      Maybe we should use a little more leverage. Bring on the American Legion and the NRA. And by the way, how about a multi gun salute quite frequently over those graves. I don’t think liberals will hang around if a bunch of vets were firing off salutes to their fallen brothers.

      Report Post » Hickory  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:39pm

    If an infected pimple would kill you if left untreated… would you ignore it?

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • babylonvi
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:39pm

    This town is probably all into Agenda 21 too, anything to destroy the fabric of America, they should ALL be voted out next election

    Report Post » babylonvi  
  • cassandra
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:39pm

    step by step progressives want to take our history and our rights we have been asleep too long, we have been working too hard to pay all the taxes they keep pushing on us so wellfare people can sit on the couch ,plus we have to pay the bloated pensions of state workers ENOUGH is ENOUGH I want to keep the money I work hard for

    Report Post »  
  • TommyGuns
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:36pm

    Time for a little civil disobedience! When our elected officials pass ordinances like this one, it’s time for the citizenry to engage in exactly the conduct the butt heads are trying to prohibit or control. Then when the next election comes around, let them know that we’ve figured out that whole term limits thing!

    Report Post » TommyGuns  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:26pm

    One more move by the progressives to discredit and diminish the solidiers who defend our land and who have given everything in service to it.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • jhaydeng
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:26pm

    Where

    Report Post »  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love