Flagging Down ‘Patriotic’ Businesses

* Like young Ryan Christensen (“Tire Dealer: Don’t Tread on Me,” Sept. 2) , I am an Eagle Scout--but apparently of a different stripe. When I was a Scout we were proud to be selected to take the flag down every evening and raise it the next day. We’d never dream of it being up 24 hours, or, as is the case with these men, being commercially used.

And commercial it is--there’s nothing “patriotic” about it!

And I think I can comment on that too. I was a naval officer in World War II. Also, I have a Stanford MBA in marketing, so I know something of selling and marketing.

It’s a repugnance, this use of the flag to “catch attention” to a commercial establishment. It’s no different than the other possibly self-proclaimed patriotic businesses that fly American flags so huge that they almost defy imagination--and don’t kid yourselves, it’s purely business!

JACK CARPENTER

Laguna Niguel