Idaho Falls mayor meets with veterans to discuss flag proposal
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IDAHO FALLS — The mayor of Idaho Falls held an informal meeting Thursday night with leaders of various veteran organizations. The purpose was to discuss a proposed policy that could impact whether a POW/MIA flag remains flying on city flag poles.
Mayor Rebecca Casper, city attorney Randall Fife and a handful of veterans sat in a circle and talked, asked questions and voiced opinions about the controversial issue.
In July, Fife recommended removing the POW/MIA flag that has flown on a pole outside City Hall for years. City employees told EastIdahoNews.com they had been instructed to remove the flag July 6.
RELATED | Mayor says POW/MIA flag will continue to fly while city develops policy
Hours after the news broke about the pending removal, Casper announced it would continue to fly until the city came up with an official flag policy.
RELATED | City of Idaho Falls introduces proposed flag policy following POW/MIA controversy
Fife’s proposed flag policy was announced last month and contains three separate parts:
PART ONE: Deals with the three main government flags: the national flag, state flag and city flag. It also details how flags flown on city property are to be treated in regards to being raised, lowered, replaced and lowered to half mast.
PART TWO: Adopts a city flag. The city has a seal that is flown as the city flag; however, Fife mentioned he could not find anywhere where it had officially been adopted as the city flag.
PART THREE: Would remove the POW/MIA flag from City Hall except on certain holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day and National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The flag would continue to fly year-round at the War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.
Two dozen people took to the podium during a City Council meeting last Thursday expressing displeasure with the proposed policy and the possibility of removing the POW/MIA flag.
RELATED | Frustrated, angry, emotional citizens speak out about POW/MIA flag
Casper invited leaders to meet with her to clear up confusion and answer questions.
The City Council is expected to vote on the matter on Thursday, Nov. 8.