The Nation - News from July 21, 1989

America’s major veterans groups, armed with a new poll, called on Congress to act quickly to protect the flag from desecration. At the same time, a former prisoner of war cautioned members of a House Judiciary subcommittee to not damage the Constitution because of the flag issue. Members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans presented initial results of a Gallup Poll that found 66% favor a constitutional amendment. The survey was taken July 7-17 and included 272 respondents. But James Warner, a former Marine flight officer who was held as a prisoner in Vietnam for 5 1/2 years, argued that while desecration of the flag caused him “immeasurable pain,” the Constitution should not be tampered with.