NEWLAND, N.C. — There were U.S. flags put up in Newland, which is stirring controversy.
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The former mayor bought the flags and had them put them up after the Iran conflict started to honor servicemembers and because of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
However, Newland town leaders questioned that decision and had police reach out to him.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty spotted the flags across town.
Former Mayor Derek Roberts showed Faherty the flag outside his home. They were also near the elementary school, and several are next to the Newland Town Hall.
“I’m patriotic,” Roberts said. “It’s just that simple. With me seeing our soldiers coming home in flag-draped caskets right now, I think folks need to pay attention to what’s going on.”
John Millan saluted the flag near downtown Newland. Millan, who is a Persian Gulf War and Iraq War veteran, strongly supports the former mayor’s decision to buy the flags and then pay people to put them up across town.
“When you have another veteran, who paid out of pocket to post these flags, I think it would be appreciated,” Millan said. “Maybe there’s an administrative angle I don’t understand.”
Roberts said the town’s police chief called him and questioned him why the flags had gone up.
Faherty went to downtown on Tuesday and learned a Newland town Alderman asked the town to investigate why Roberts, who hasn’t been mayor since last year, put the flags up, now.
Roberts said he, along with other veterans, first got permission from Mountain Electric to put the flags on their polls across Newland. He strongly believes they should stay.
“It’s our 250th anniversary,” Roberts said. “I mean, we’re the greatest country in the world. I don’t think anyone can dispute that. We’ve been here for 250 years, and I think we all need to be celebrating that year around.”
Faherty asked the town of Newland if they have any plans right now to try to remove the flags, and the town clerk assured us that is not happening, right now.
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