Clinton County responds to criticism on flag purchase matter

LOCK: HAVEN, PA – Clinton County government has responded to a stream of online criticism over a county decision to no longer purchase American flags for bridges and memorials. The matter had been broached at a county commissioner meeting in mid-June by South Renovo resident/veteran Robert Cozzi, a longtime volunteer in placing flags throughout western Clinton County.

His comments were followed by a flood of negative comments from county residents on social media, critical of the county action. The county commissioners had minimal comment at that June 15 meeting. The county has subsequently gone online with background information and defense of the flag decision.

The county posting is reprinted here:

Clinton County Government
We as a county have a couple of choices here.
Delete this post due to the negativity and false claims or clear up some misinformation that has swarmed into this feed.
In an effort to give the community more detail, knowing that no matter what truth and fact is given here that the contingent of “everything is wrong and they can’t do anything right” will still have a keyboard frenzy….here it goes.
County Government supports veterans throughout the entire year.
Our VA office has staggering numbers of support given to local and even out of county veterans. This office organizes transportation to the VA hospital, makes calls, helps with all things health care.
Not to mention the service men and women who need guidance information, filing help, etc.
County Government buys flags for every single veteran grave in the county. These numbers are provided by the cemetery organization/caretakers.
Volunteers and county VA staff & volunteers make sure the flags are placed for Memorial Day. It was discovered recently that the identification numbers were incorrect and a data base is being updated to make sure every hero is recognized.
Private citizens do not have to buy flags for cemeteries. And they never had to unless of course they choose to.
County Government purchases all metal service markers for veterans graves.
County Government contributes to the burial of all county veterans and their spouses. In 2022 the burial contribution line item was over $12,000.
We are working with an organization to move all memorials to county property so that the new Veteran’s Park can be created.
County Government facilitates, supports, and contributes to the military share program that provides healthy food to veterans and their families every month.
County Government has been working with Atlas to offer a room for tele-health appointments for all veterans.
Now onto the matter at hand. Why aren’t we buying flags for bridges and memorials for municipalities or other organizations?
The fact is, in 2021 there was an increase in cost, but this wasn’t the entire reason the decision was made to not order large US flags for the groups listed above. There was a substantial backlog issue and at that time, getting the grave flags was at risk of being back ordered.
The VA director at the time explained that prior to their holding the position, US flags were bought and stocked for requests from groups listed above. “That’s the way we’ve always done it” kind of thing.
After research, phone calls, and legalities, the decision was made in 2021 to not stockpile flags for requests.
A letter was sent (in 2021) to most if not all past requesters explaining that the county would no longer purchase flags and hand them out.
There are multiple VA organizations in our county, VFWs, and other service groups that could help fill the void. As mentioned, the State Rep, Senators, and Congressmen can help fill the void.
This is the third year of not purchasing flags for non county related groups or obligations.
This was not a budget cut. The VA budget like all budgets has increased.
We have hired a decorated veteran to lead this department and his assistant (also a highly respected veteran) are doing amazing work on behalf of the county for all veterans.
Hope this clears up the misconception that we do not support our veterans or buy flags.
What we can not do is continue to supply large US flags to groups and municipalities who have other means of obtaining them.