Flag upsets city worker - American Air Tragedy (From Bucks Free Press)

Flag upsets city worker - American Air Tragedy

3:08pm Monday 24th September 2001 in News By Kelly Clayton

UPSET Barbara Blood doesn't understand why her church and village hall are only flying the American flag at half mast.

Barbara said: "I'm quite upset about it. Lots of British people lost their lives too. There was a St George's flag on the church which I thought was sad as it was just saluting the English but even that has been taken down."

The city worker, who lives next to Tylers Green Village Hall says the village only seems to be remembering the Americans after the terrorism.

She said: "I work in fashion in London and buyers from companies we deal with were on one of the flights.

"They seem to be forgetting about the British people and it could stir up a lot of racial tension in the area, because it looks as though we are thoroughly supporting just the Americans.

"A number of different races have been affected by the tragedy, but it would be impossible to fly all the flags at half mast so it would be better to fly none.

"I don't have a problem with showing patriotism, but I'm worried it is sending out the wrong message."

Graham Summers, church warden, said: "Last Sunday morning someone came along with an American flag and asked if we would like to fly it as a mark of respect with regard to the recent events in America. It seemed the sensible thing to do.

"We flew the Union flag at half mast last week as a mark of respect in view of what has happened. It was returned to full mast on Sunday and will be taken down this week. It is a temporary measure as a mark of respect and I'm surprised anyone finds that a problem frankly.

"If this lady had attended our church service that Sunday she would have heard prayers for all those who lost their lives there's nothing pro-American about it at all."