Upside down American flag at Walton County business attracts public criticism
An American flag was being flown upside down for much of the day Tuesday from a pole on the grounds of Camp Gulf in Walton County.
The business, which appears in legal documents as Camping on the Gulf Land LLC, was one of 15 beach owner clients who came out on the losing end of a Monday hearing in Federal Court....
... “Flying the American flag upside down, for me that is horrible,” said Suzanne Harris, president of Edgewater Condominiums, located down the road from Camp Gulf.
“I’m not telling them they can’t do it. I’m just saying it’s not helpful right now,” said Destin City Councilman Parker Destin. “It just appears this is a temper tantrum because they lost a court case.”
In a lengthy written response, Camp Gulf manager Patrick O’Neill denied the flag was being flown upside down to anger anyone or protest a court ruling.
“The reason we fly the American flag is not to be disrespectful. It is not to thumb our nose at the authorities. It is to remind the authorities that they cannot continually erode our rights down to nothing without (our) speaking out against them,” he said.
“It is not a disrespect, in fact it is quite the opposite. It is a sign of distress. In this case it is a distress of property. This same county that has continually eroded our rights has recently ‘taken control’ of the property,” the release said.
An American flag was being flown upside down for much of the day Tuesday from a pole on the grounds of Camp Gulf in Walton County.
The business, which appears in legal documents as Camping on the Gulf Land LLC, was one of 15 beach owner clients who came out on the losing end of a Monday hearing in Federal Court....
... “Flying the American flag upside down, for me that is horrible,” said Suzanne Harris, president of Edgewater Condominiums, located down the road from Camp Gulf.
“I’m not telling them they can’t do it. I’m just saying it’s not helpful right now,” said Destin City Councilman Parker Destin. “It just appears this is a temper tantrum because they lost a court case.”
In a lengthy written response, Camp Gulf manager Patrick O’Neill denied the flag was being flown upside down to anger anyone or protest a court ruling.
“The reason we fly the American flag is not to be disrespectful. It is not to thumb our nose at the authorities. It is to remind the authorities that they cannot continually erode our rights down to nothing without (our) speaking out against them,” he said.
“It is not a disrespect, in fact it is quite the opposite. It is a sign of distress. In this case it is a distress of property. This same county that has continually eroded our rights has recently ‘taken control’ of the property,” the release said.
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