Staff hoisted state and U.S. flags at Verdugo Park upside down by accident, official says
The U.S. and California flags flown upside down outside the Verdugo Park Recreation Center in Burbank last week were raised that way unintentionally, a Burbank official says.
On a few instances during the week of Feb. 17, the flags were inadvertently hoisted in the wrong position by new temporary staff members of the Burbank Public Works Department, which is in charge of raising and lowering them every day, said Marisa Garcia, Burbank’s parks and recreation director, on Wednesday.
The flagpole, which is located outside the main facility along California Street, can usually be seen with the U.S., California and the National League of Families POW/MIA flags on display.
During the recent incidents, the POW flag was the only banner flying in the correct position.
“It’s my understanding that staff had accidentally and improperly put up the flags upside down,” Garcia said. “It was an honest mistake, and it shouldn’t have happened.”
Flying the American flag upside down has traditionally been a signal of distress, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Garcia said there are certain etiquette procedures regarding the American flag that need to be followed.
For instance, flags such as those at the Verdugo Park Recreation Center are usually raised and lowered each day at sunrise and sunset.
However, the flags at the Burbank War Memorial at McCambridge Park are always flown because tradition allows for the U.S. flag to appear at night if it is illuminated.
Several city flagpoles, including the one at Verdugo Park, are not illuminated at night.
Additionally, the U.S. flag is always to be flown highest if it is surrounded by others.
Burbank resident Greg Sousa, who saw two of the three flags at the Verdugo Park Recreation Center flying incorrectly the week of Feb. 17, said it would be inappropriate for someone to use public property to voice their opinion on a topic.
“While I respect the right of dissent, flags flown at taxpayer expense are meant to represent people of all viewpoints,” Sousa said on Monday. “It is, therefore, inappropriate to use publicly owned flags as a means of protest.”
Garcia said she was confident that the flags were flown upside down by accident and she has asked park and public works staff to check multiple times a day to make sure all flags flown on city property are in the correct position.
