The discussion of whether or not to allow non-U.S. national flags to be placed in flag holders at Bellevue cemeteries has become so controversial - the cemetery committee resigned just hours before Monday’s city council meeting.
Earlier this month, some people voiced concern with veteran flag holders being used for other purposes at Bellevue cemeteries. The city’s administrator, Public Works director and Parks superintendent then created a new ordinance with new rules, which was reviewed at the city council meeting.
The new proposed rules would prohibit unsightly objects, such as toys and bottles, but the biggest change would be to allow cloth flags from other countries – not just U.S. flags, to be displayed on headstones, as long as they’re placed in a brass flag holder or vase.
“Well here’s the problem, what is the flag holder? The flag holder is in recognition to the veteran to this country, not another country – this country,” said Allen Holley, a U.S. veteran who sat on the cemetery committee for nearly 13 years.
Holley and the two other committee members notified the city council of their resignation hours before the meeting, saying they were ‘fed up’ with the frustrations of the back and forth with cemeteries rules.
“We can no longer put up with the constant indecision and all the frustrations dealing with this so we’re through,” said Holley.
Bellevue Parks Superintendent, Brian Madison says the cemetery is a public cemetery that’s cared for by the city, not a military cemetery, therefore, if U.S. flags are allowed to be displayed, the city cannot exclude other national flags.
“I served in the United States Air Force with people who have become U.S. citizens. And they were proud of their heritage. If they were Mexican-American, or Pilipino-American, they were proud to be from the Philippines or Mexico and they were proud to become Americans and serve in our uniform,” said Madison. “So if their families want to honor them by putting their national flag as a background next to the American flag, I believe we should allow that.”
The Bellevue city council will vote on the new ordinance with the revised changes at the December 11 meeting.
