Vets flag confiscated because he flew it

**R13** · July 11th, 2009, 12:12 AM

upside down in protest.

WAUSAU, Wis. ? An American flag flown upside down as a protest in a northern Wisconsin village was seized by police before a Fourth of July parade and the businessman who flew it ? an Iraq war veteran ? claims the officers trespassed and stole his property.

A day after the parade, police returned the flag and the man's protest ? over a liquor license ? continued.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is considering legal action against the village of Crivitz for violating Vito Congine Jr.'s' First Amendment rights, Executive Director Chris Ahmuty said.

"It is not often that you see something this blatant," Ahmuty said.

In mid-June, Congine, 46, began flying the flag upside down ? an accepted way to signal distress ? outside the restaurant he wants to open in Crivitz, a village of about 1,000 people some 65 miles north of Green Bay.

He said his distress is likely bankruptcy because the village board refused to grant him a liquor license after he spent nearly $200,000 to buy and remodel a downtown building for an Italian supper club.

Congine's upside-down-flag represents distress to him; to others in town, it represents disrespect of the flag.

Hours before a Fourth of July parade, four police officers went to Congine's property and removed the flag under the advice of Marinette County District Attorney Allen Brey.

Neighbor Steven Klein watched in disbelief.

"I said, 'What are you doing?' Klein said. "They said, 'It is none of your business.'"

The next day, police returned the flag.

Brey declined comment Friday.

Marinette County Sheriff Jim Kanikula said it was not illegal to fly the flag upside down but people were upset and it was the Fourth of July.

"It is illegal to cause a disruption," he said.

The parade went on without any problems, Kanikula said.

Village President John Deschane, 60, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, said many people in town believe it's disrespectful to fly the flag upside down.

"If he wants to protest, let him protest but find a different way to do it," Deschane said.

Congine, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq in 2004, said he intends to keep flying the flag upside down.

"It is pretty bad when I go and fight a tyrannical government somewhere else," Congine said, "and then I come home to find it right here at my front door."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090710/...side_down_flag

**Biggin** · July 11th, 2009, 12:20 AM

jesus thats terrible

****in stormtroopers man

**centennialdawg** · July 11th, 2009, 08:53 AM

I respect the vet's reason for protesting the local government, but to me, unless the country, or town is in real danger, then I can not agree with our flag being flown in such a manner. There are certain criteria to be met before our flag should be flown upside-down. To protest in this way in my opinion, is a desecration of our flag.

**R13** · July 11th, 2009, 01:56 PM

Thats the thing about the flag, you can burn it, fly it upside down, **** on it, do anything you want to it and its your right to. So, he could have done a lot worse with it.

**Biggin** · July 11th, 2009, 02:52 PM

he risked his life fighting for this country, he has earned the right to protest however he wants.

if it was a regular person doing this, i would be less inclined to care,but the guy is a marine corp veteran, iraqi war soldier

**Unchained** · July 11th, 2009, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by centennialdawg

I respect the vet's reason for protesting the local government, but to me, unless the country, or town is in real danger, then I can not agree with our flag being flown in such a manner. There are certain criteria to be met before our flag should be flown upside-down. To protest in this way in my opinion, is a desecration of our flag.

BINGO! No matter what the protest,no matter how ticked off you are,you simply do not fly our flag upside down, whether you are a vet or not.

**Biggin** · July 11th, 2009, 03:02 PM

does that means its okay for the cops to go on his property, and confiscate his flag?

he broke no laws

**Unchained** · July 11th, 2009, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Biggin

does that means its okay for the cops to go on his property, and confiscate his flag?

he broke no laws

It comes down to respect,and flying it upside is the equivalent to wiping your arse on it. Having said that,the cops stepped over the line as well. Two wrongs don't make a right as the old saying goes.

**centennialdawg** · July 11th, 2009, 06:42 PM

Flying the flag upside-down means that the country, ship, vessel etc, is in distress, not your private life. To me, an Iraqi/Panama/Grenada war veteran, what this veteran did was the same as burning the flag. Flying the flag in that way is only for distress in situations I stated above.

According to what he did basically means that anyone who has a disagreement with how things are going should have that right. Does that now mean I have the right to fly my flag upside-down because I didn't agree with the way our last presidential election turned turned out? Can the citizens of Appalachia, St. Paul, or Pound fly their flags upside down because they were outvoted on the consolidation issue? I most certainly don't think so. I love my country as much as this veteran does, but a private matter does not constitute being able to desecrate the flag as he did. He, of all people in our country, should know better.

**R13** · July 11th, 2009, 07:08 PM

It's his right to do whatever he wants to with it, he has earned that right regardless. The flag is a piece of cloth, a symbol of many symbols that represent us, but it's nothing to be worshiped. It's everyones right to do whatever they want to with it, that includes burning it. Freedom of speech, though I don't personally do it, it's still a right he has to fly it upside down. There was actually a Supreme Court ruling that says you can fly it upside down to make a statement in a civic matter, so yes, all those people you mentioned can do that if they want.