Forest Service Reverses Flag Decision
Old Glory Will Continue To Fly On Summit Mountain
POSTED: 9:26 a.m. MDT September 5, 2003
The U.S. Forest Service has reversed a decision against permitting a U.S. flag to fly on top of a Summit County mountain to commemorate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Earlier in the week, officials of the White River National Forest announced that flying the flag (pictured, left) on the top of Peak 1 near Frisco, Colo., violated Forest Service guidelines that prohibit memorials or permanent structures on public land.
The denial raised a storm of controversy among local residents and the story was carried nationwide by several news organizations. The Forest Service change-of-heart came after that, although officials won't say what caused them to reverse course.
"It's not consistent with regulations regarding monuments on
national forest land," she said Thursday. "However, considering
the event that they're memorializing and that the people in Summit
County feel strongly about their hike to the top, we want to permit
it."
She said the Forest Service will issue a permit for a local group to climb Peak 1 to replace the tattered U.S. flag that has been flying on the mountain for more than a year.
The decision to allow the flag applies to this year only and the Forest Service will address the problem on a year-by-year basis.
Frisco resident Katherine Ebert-Flynn said she wants the Forest
Service to allow the flag indefinitely, without a permit.
"It is Summit County's only living memorial to those who
died," she said.
The agency's initial decision to deny a permit this year had
angered some residents. Becky Johnson of Breckenridge said she was
preparing to start a petition to reverse the decision.
"I look at it every day and it's an inspiration to me,"
Johnson said.
Earlier in the week, officials of the White River National Forest announced that flying the flag (pictured, left) on the top of Peak 1 near Frisco, Colo., violated Forest Service guidelines that prohibit memorials or permanent structures on public land.
The denial raised a storm of controversy among local residents and the story was carried nationwide by several news organizations. The Forest Service change-of-heart came after that, although officials won't say what caused them to reverse course.
"It's not consistent with regulations regarding monuments on
national forest land," she said Thursday. "However, considering
the event that they're memorializing and that the people in Summit
County feel strongly about their hike to the top, we want to permit
it."
She said the Forest Service will issue a permit for a local group to climb Peak 1 to replace the tattered U.S. flag that has been flying on the mountain for more than a year.
The decision to allow the flag applies to this year only and the Forest Service will address the problem on a year-by-year basis.
Frisco resident Katherine Ebert-Flynn said she wants the Forest
Service to allow the flag indefinitely, without a permit.
"It is Summit County's only living memorial to those who
died," she said.
The agency's initial decision to deny a permit this year had
angered some residents. Becky Johnson of Breckenridge said she was
preparing to start a petition to reverse the decision.
"I look at it every day and it's an inspiration to me,"
Johnson said.
Previous Story:
- September 4, 2003: Government Won't Allow U.S. Flag To Fly Over Mountain
Copyright 2003 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
