By Moses Leos III
As a grandson of a military veteran, Curry Parker, owner of the Pipe Lion in Kyle, realizes the pride veterans have for the American flag.
When a veteran inquired about a tattered flag atop a sign at the corner of FM 150 and Center Street, Parker understood the veteran’s frustration.
“He was obviously upset. He was a veteran and I’m upset about it,” Parker said. “The flag was not even a flag. It was so tattered that it was disgraceful. I agreed with him.”
Frank Molina, a Kyle area veteran, entered the Pipe Lion in September to inform Parker about the state of the flag
In an email to the Hays Free Press, Molina said the flag had been in bad shape “for some time.”
“It seems that it was just forgotten,” Molina said in his email. “Not even remembered when the holidays come along.”
Molina provided Parker a replacement American flag to give to John Kimbro, the owner of the property the sign sits on.
However, it wasn’t until October when the flag was eventually replaced. Parker said he contacted Kimbro on several occasions to inform him of the flag.
The Hays Free Press reached out to Kimbro, who did not provide a comment.
Ensuring damaged flags are replaced is something Kyle/Buda Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 12058 commander Dwight Stewart has done on several occasions.
According to Stewart, a flag that’s tattered, faded or no longer functional is one that should be retired.
The frequency of veterans taking notice of torn flags varies. Some groups, such as VFWs and the American Veterans (AMVETS) will offer replacement flags.
In addition, many VFWs take part in helping retire damaged flags. That’s done in conjunction with local Boy Scout troops, where the flag is ceremoniously burned.
Making sure the flag is properly respected and replaced is the goal for Stewart and many other veterans.
“[Veterans are] sworn to defend the flag and the constitution,” Stewart said. “It fits in with the values we build as veterans serving our country.”
Parker hopes the flag that currently sits at the corner of FM 150 and Center Street continues to be maintained.
“What I thought is that it should be a nice flag, or it shouldn’t be there at all,” Parker said.
