O’Scanlon and DiMaso requested legislation Monday to ensure that NJAC 19.9-1.13 undeniably permits the American flag to be attached to a highway overpass or any other state-owned property so long as it is safely secure and respectfully maintained.
Updates to MidJersey.News related stories here:
American Flags Replaced On NJ Turnpike Overpasses In Robbinsville By Police Union
Related MidJersey.News story here: NJ Turnpike Authority Removes American Flags From Bridges, Flags Have Been In Place 19 Years Since Terrorist Attacks On The United States, September 11, 2001
Don’t forget the Robbinsville Township Police PBA will be replacing flags in Robbinsville on Friday, September 11, 2020 at noon. Please bring your flags to show support.
For all those attending the event this Friday, remember to bring your American Flags and patriotic spirit! We are hoping for a field of red, white, and blue!
We will be meeting at Community Park, where I invite anyone who wishes to speak to say what the American flag means to them. After that, we will all take a short walk up the West Manor Way overpass together and re-post the flags.
Thank you all for your immense support!
Event page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/597290697826772/
September 8, 2020
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Governor Phil Murphy said Tuesday he’s asked the Turnpike Authority to suspend taking down the flags. “I didn’t like what I heard. We are the greatest nation on earth even though we are far from perfect, and our flag represents that nation,” Murphy said. “At least for the time being the Turnpike Authority has suspended doing that until we can find a good way forward.” The governor didn’t say under what conditions or when the practice might resume.
Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (both R-Monmouth) today condemned the misguided removal of American flags by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) from highway overpasses and moved forward with legislation to unequivocally allow them to be flown.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that the Turnpike Authority would choose to remove dozens of American flags under the guise of a regulation for advertising material — it is unpatriotic and completely unacceptable,” said O’Scanlon. “While the NJTA claims they are unable to monitor all of the flags affixed to bridges, we clearly have a massive group of private citizens, veterans and police officers dedicated to ensuring that those flags are safely and securely hung, and respectfully maintained. This is an instance where government oversight obviously is not needed. We have requested legislation to undo this arbitrary, unnecessary, offensively unpatriotic action immediately.”
O’Scanlon and DiMaso requested legislation Monday to ensure that NJAC 19.9-1.13 undeniably permits the American flag to be attached to a highway overpass or any other state-owned property so long as it is safely secure and respectfully maintained.
“It Is unfortunate, actually ridiculous, that we even need to pass legislation to allow for the display of the American flag, the symbol of freedom and democracy, at these locations,” DiMaso continued. “Our local police, residents, and veterans will not simply drive by tattered and unsecured flags. They already make efforts to ensure the flags are respectfully maintained and regularly replaced. Sadly, this is what our state has evolved into. We hope that the Governor will override the NJTA’s faulty logic and decision here. If not, we call on our colleagues in the legislature to stand behind our bill and prove that we as New Jerseyans love and respect our country.”
American Flags on overpasses in Hamilton Township New Jersey over the NJ Turnpike, and in Robbinsville over Interstate 195 on Tuesday September 8, 2020
Signs on NJ Turnpike overpasses in Robbinsville and East Windsor stating that “Placement of signage or items of any nature on this structure is strictly prohibited”