Newtown Lowers Its Flag

The flag on Main Street was at half-staff for much of this week to honor the 17 sailors who were killed during last week’s terrorist attack of the USS Cole in Yemen.

Under Presidential orders, the flag was to be lowered until Wednesday. However, the flag was still at half-staff Thursday morning. Newtown Hook & Ladder volunteers, with the help of their aerial truck, were expected to raise the flag later this week.

In years past, the flag in Newtown was often lowered to mark the deaths of well known local people, as well as for national or military figures. However, that policy was changed because, according to police Lt David Lydem, who oversees the town flagpole, the police department would become deluged with calls from people wanting to know who had died.