Marshall Allen
GLENDALE -- Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian has ordered his first
flag-lowering -- in recognition of Peace Officer's Memorial Day.
The lowering is in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code.
Peace Officer's Memorial Day was signed into law by President John F.
Kennedy in Octobe, 1962. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed an
amendment to the U.S. Flag Code, indicating that the flag should be
lowered on May 15.
Lowering the U.S. flag in Glendale has been a source of intense
controversy. On April 24, 2001, then-Mayor Gus Gomez ordered the flag
lowered in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. That move led to a
recall effort against him.
On Feb. 12 of this year, the City Council amended Glendale's flag code
to make it consistent with the federal code, meaning it would no longer
be lowered to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Lowering the flag in Glendale Wednesday is a "nonissue," Manoukian
said.
"Whatever the flag code says is fine," he said.
Manoukian said he doesn't anticipate any controversy about lowering
the flag.
Allan Scott, vice commander of American Legion Post 127 in Glendale, said he recognizes that lowering the flag has been a "touchy" issue in
Glendale. The American Legion's national headquarters sent requests to
cities across the country urging the flag be lowered Wednesday.
"There's been a lot of dissension in this city regarding the flag
lowering," Scott said.
But there's no ambiguity in this situation, because the American
Legion follows the U.S. Flag Code, he said. Scott, whose son is a
California Highway Patrol officer, said lowering the flag is an important
recognition for those peace officer's who have lost their lives in the
line of duty.
"I know they're paid to do their job, but in some ways they're here to
protect and serve and that's not a whole lot different than the
military," he said.
