A few days before the Memorial Day weekend, I called the Evans City Middle School to ask that someone replace or take down the American Flag that was flying; it was in very bad condition. I was told by one of the secretaries that she would tell the appropriate person, or maybe the Parent-Teacher Organization would replace it.

On June 17, as I was passing the school, I noticed the same flag flying and, of course, it was in even worse condition. I called the school again and asked to speak with the principal. He came on the line shortly and in a very unprofessional manner said "Hello," never identifying himself.

I told him my concern and these were his exact words: "This is a very busy time of the year for us and we have more important things to worry about than that flag."

I asked him if he didn't care about the veterans who pass the school each and every day. He assured me that Seneca Valley does care about the veterans — that there had been a two-hour program honoring them.

I also asked him if the fact that many people have fought and died so that we can fly the "Red, White and Blue" made any difference to him; he informed me that he resented that comment.

I suggested to him that perhaps there were Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts who would be honored to have the privilege each day to raise the flag and retire it at the end of the day. Oh, I forgot — we don't retire that school flag at the end of the day; we let it fly 24/7, even though there is no light on it for nighttime viewing.

Doesn't that principal think that the men and women who have gone to war, left their loved ones to fight for us, and lost their lives for us wouldn't have loved to stay home with their families? Thank God they weren't too busy to serve.

To the veterans and the military persons serving now, nothing was or is more important than their duty to the United States of America.