Re: Dave J. Betti's Nov. 4 letter, "Fly flags properly":
First and foremost, I'm a Vietnam veteran and very proud of that fact. I own American Flags & Cutlery, the only flag store in Ventura County.
This recent letter blamed the businesses that sells the flags for the Ventura County Government Center Veterans Memorial and says they are not keeping the proper sizes in stock.
So here's the truth. American Flags & Cutlery made a commitment eight years ago to supply flags for the Ventura County Government Center Veterans Memorial. We do that twice a year. We supply a 5-by-8-foot U.S. flag and a double-sided 4-by-6-foot POW/MIA flag, both of which are made in America by American workers. Those are the sizes that have been flown there as long as I can remember. These flags are supplied to the Disabled American Veterans, and they in turn put them up twice a year.
I would invite the writer to stop in and see that there is always a 5-by-8-foot U.S. and 4-by-6-foot double-sided POW/MIA flag tucked away when it is needed by the DAV for their needs.
Oh, by the way, those flags are given to the DAV free of charge. All costs are borne by American Flags & Cutlery. This is our commitment to fly those colors constantly. We continue our commitment to provide flags for the Government Center even in this economic downturn.
What happens at other locations is out of my control. However, if people come into my store, I will advise them of the proper display of the flag and selection of sizes.
-- Gary L. Parker, Ventura