Local

Titusville to make changes after flap over U.S. flags

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — Next week fewer flags will be flying along the Avenue of Flags in Titusville.

City leaders have been at odds with some residents over flag etiquette for a year now.

A nearly six mile stretch of U.S. 1 in Titusville looks patriotic to some but to some veterans at the American Legion Post it looks wrong.

"You got two flags on one pole and they're both facing inwards, which is incorrect," said Marine Tom Northcutt.

David Galloway served in the Vietnam War. Galloway said he doesn't want to start a fight over the flags. He said he just wants respect.

"The etiquette is not being followed, and to me that's not a tribute to what we sacrificed, or parents and family sacrificed," said Galloway.

A city group called the Flag and Memorial Committee placed about 200 banners displaying red white and blue on light poles. Channel 9's Julie Salomone was told that the group consulted an expert out from Washington before they hung the banners.

She has learned that after a heated debate the city is making a change.

Committee leaders said that half the flags will be taken down and those that remain will continue to hang vertically, but the field of stars on blue will face the east.

Those leaders said they will be following the flag code that states the stars should face north or east, depending upon the direction of the street.

Those on the committee said they want the veterans to be proud when they see the flags displayed.