In describing how the American flag withstood the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key’s “The Star-Spangled Banner” included the refrain: “... the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
Since her stars and stripes were stolen during Father’s Day weekend, Lyn D’Andrea has set up a security camera to make sure her new flag is still there.
She keeps an eye on it from a monitor inside her shop, The Hair After, 1316 Main Ave.
“I have had to resort to an eye in the sky (camera),” D’Andrea said.
“Now, I feel the flag is bait. I drive by on Sundays (to check on it). It’s like somebody stole the kitty. I want to make sure it’s still there. It’s just very upsetting; maybe I am sensitive because I know the sacrifices the people in the service make for us.”
D’Andrea’s twin sister served in the Air Force, and her father served in the Navy. Many of her clientele are also in the military. She clips the bangs of police officers and firefighters, too.
“I want them to know we’re right behind them. Then to see it gone is just insulting,” the hair stylist said. “I just don’t know what kind of person would steal a flag that is zip tied to a wrought-iron fence.”
She suspects it was stolen when the salon was closed between Saturday night, June 15, the day after Flag Day, and when the salon reopened Monday morning, June 17.
D’Andrea bought a classified advertisement in The Durango Herald, asking the culprit to return it with “no questions asked” but no such luck.
She spent $18 to replace it, which was “not cheap.”
D’Andrea likes to fly the flag to celebrate holidays such as the Fourth of July, but D’Andrea has begun to doubt her policy.
She is afraid someone is going to take her framed photo of Dylan Redwine that she has put out by her flag to remember the 13-year-old boy whose remains were recently found in the woods near Vallecito.
She does not want to lose the photo, too.
“I’m too damn paranoid to keep that out.”
jhaug@durangoherald.com
Hand over heart, caps off
Life is a parade, but there is an etiquette for observing the flag, especially on patriotic occasions such as the Fourth of July.
The hand should be over the heart, and caps should be taken off, said Jeannine Dobbins, chapter regent of the Sarah Platt Decker chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Those in military uniforms should salute.
There are a few exceptions, including for those in a marching or bagpipe band.
“If you’re in band formation, the person in charge of the band is the one saluting, and the rest is in standing attention,” Dobbins said. “People have chided us, but that is what the band rule is.”
Dobbins has much of the responsibilities for the Sarah Platt Decker chapter, named for a women’s rights activist, philanthropist and Denver socialite who visited Durango in 1912.
Herald Staff
