Dear Editor:
With the tragedy of the past week all the residents of our area and the country are wanting the American Flag. This has put a great strain on the manufacturers of flags. Our supplier, Annin Flags, is working double shifts and Saturday to meet the demand, the flag you buy now probably was made yesterday.
It is unfortunate that all Americans didn’t own a flag before this tragedy struck. I as a retailer of flags, plead with the citizens to be patient as the flags are coming.
Next week is POW Day, a day set aside to remember all those who are, or were, prisoners of war or missing in action. The victims of the World Trade Center attack are, until found, prisoners of war and missing in action. Although they may not have been military, they are missing due to acts of war.
Above my store in Hoboken you will find the purple and black mourning drapery and the POW-MIA banner. We are mourning the dead and praying for the safe return of the missing.
We urge all Americans to fly our country’s flag if you have one; if you don’t, fly the POW-MIA flag and pray for their safe return.
I am a Vietnam veteran and the owner of United Decorating Co., Inc. My family has been supplying flags to the community since 1899.
William Kirchgessner
421 Washington St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030