American Flag - Texas Flag Controversy in Rockwall County, Texas

I am a native Texan, and a proud one at that.  I have lived in other states and countries, but always come back to Texas.  It is, and always will be, my home.  If you are a native Texan, you know exactly what I am talking about.  We’re bigger & better than any other state.  In fact, Texas was a country before it became part of the United States!

Although Texans are proud of our state, we are also citizens of the United States of America.  Texans are extremely patriotic; and support our troops and our veterans.  We fly United States and Texas flags at our homes, places of business and entertainment facilities.  I personally fly an American flag, Texas flag, and military flags 365 days a year.   I do this in support of my country, my state, and my husband, who was a Vietnam veteran.

Members of the American Legion Post 117 from Rockwall County, Texas are one such group of patriotic Texans.  This group of veterans have worked for years to bring a veterans memorial to their area.  Several attempts were made, including a plaque on the Rockwall County courthouse building.  In 2005, several members of the Post decided a memorial was needed to honor the veterans from Rockwall county.  A new courthouse was being built in the town of Rockwall, and the Rockwall County Veterans Memorial could be located next to it.  

The Veterans Memorial Park was to be a place for public gatherings; an area to contemplate and remember veterans; and a site for special events.  The memorial was to represent the loss of the thousands of Rockwall County veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. It was also to be one of the only veteran’s memorials with 3 battlefield crosses: WWI, WWII and a current battlefield cross.

A proposal to build the Veterans Memorial Park was presented to the Rockwall County Commissioners Court, and it was accepted.  A committee was formed - The Design Jury and the Dedication Committee - to conduct extensive research into every single detail regarding the placement, design and execution of the plans for the Rockwall County Veterans Memorial.  Their mission was to precisely follow official and established protocol, and the statutes of the United States and Texas.  

 A design was created and presented to the Rockwall County Commissioners Court.  In the plan, the Memorial includes the flying of the United States, Texas, and Pow/MIA flags.  The United States flag was to be located in the center of the other two, and slightly higher.   The plan was voted on by the County Commissioners, and unanimously accepted.  Funds were raised for the building of the Memorial, including money from the veterans of American Legion Post 117.  On Veterans Day 2011, Rockwall County Veterans Memorial was dedicated  and opened to the public.

It came as quite a surprise to the community when just two months later, the United States flagpole was resized.  There had been no court order, nor any authorization.  It just happened.

During a hearing, a Commissioner came forward, admitting he was the one who authorized the action.  He stated he was only following the Texas law that mandates all flags be flown at the same height. In addition, this same man, Commissioner Wimpee, presented Rockwall County with a bill for $760 to cover the cost of trimming the pole's height.

Section 7(e) of the US Flag Code states the following:

"The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs"

In the Texas Government Code, Chapter 3100, Subchapter A, Sec. 3100.055(b), titled: Display on Flagpole/Flagstaff with Flag of the United States, the code reads:

"If the state flag and the flag of the United States are displayed on flagpoles/flagstaffs at the same location:  (1)  the flags should be displayed on flagpoles/flagstaffs of the same height."

Rockwall County Veterans are insulted and angered by the action of Commissioner Wimpee, calling him a vandal.  They demand that he return the United States flag to it’s original height.  Rockwall County Judge Jerry Hogan states:  “This is not an issue about flag placement.  This is an issue about an individual without any authority coming over here and destroying one of the flagpoles."

Rockwall County has called in the Texas Rangers to see if Commissioner Wimpee has committed a crime.  Until the investigation is complete, we only have our opinions on how this issue should be resolved.