Veterans Call for Flags to Fly Upside Down

War veterans are asking Americans across the country to fly their flags upside down this Fourth of July weekend.

War veterans are asking Americans across the country to fly their flags upside down this Fourth of July weekend. They say it’s a sign of distress and a protest against the Veterans Administration.

A small group of veterans picketed outside the Canandaigua VA Hospital Wednesday afternoon. They were protesting the closing of VA hospitals across the country. They say those that aren't closing are being sold off or leased to outside interests, depriving veterans the treatment they have earned.

Displaying the American flag upside down, however, is considered by some to be disrespectful.

“We're not disgracing the flag but telling the public be on the alert,” said Gene Simes, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “This is a distress call."

The vets believe their message is not being received. They've called on Congress to do more. Representative Eric Massa (D-Corning), a veteran himself, says this Congress and the Obama administration has done more for veterans in the past six months than ever before.

"Billions of dollars of an increase,” Massa said. “The largest single increase in the history of the VA including tens of millions of dollars not only for Canandaigua, for Bath in the stimulus bill."

Veterans say it isn't enough. They say too many services are being outsourced and sometimes they have to travel too far to receive those services.

"They’re spending pennies when dollars should be spent on the veterans,” said Marty Barden, a veteran of the U.S. Army. “Veterans aren't getting the proper support; they're kind of being pushed off to the side."

"If we are to maintain an all volunteer military, we must make our veterans affairs a priority in this country,” explained U.S. Navy veteran Jere Beery. “We must put that at the top of the list as directly related to national security, retention, morale in our military."

Veterans say they've called on national veterans organizations to support their cause, but the support isn't there.

"Am I griping about the national organization? You're damn right I am. “That's why this flag is upside down,” Simes said. “Let them understand it's not something we take easy that we're doing. This is something very hard, it's affecting all of us but we have to do it."

Representatives from the Canandaigua VA Hospital said they would have no comment at this time.

07/01/2009 09:37 PM

By: Mike Hedeen

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Fourth of July Tea Party Participants… Please Remember the Vets!!