The American flag is flying upside down in a Tulsa neighborhood and tempers are flaring.There’s nothing illegal about it but it’s sending a bitter message to neighbors.
FOX23 News received almost 200 comments on its Facebook page about the issue.
FOX23’s Abbie Alford reports what she found out.
A woman tracked down a FOX23 News photographer because she was concerned about an upside down flag hanging in her neighborhood.
Historically, it’s a sign of distress or trouble.
To protect the homeowner the address or the area of town will not be released.
You drive through neighborhoods and see Old Glory floating with pride on front porches.
"They fought for it and it's for freedom," says neighbor Shawna Johnston.
Part of that freedom is freedom of speech.
“We stand for our flag. And it represents a wonderful country that we live in," says neighbor Sheila Smith.
There is the freedom to fly the American flag upside down.
"Oh my Gosh. I cannot believe it. Why?" asks Johnston who has family who are war veterans.
FOX23 News hopped in the car to show Johnston, her daughter and neighbor. They live a few streets down but their frontyard is covered with American flags and so is her kitchen.
There’s also an American flag that you would see people waving at a parade lying on the ground tucked under a tarp.
"Oh my gosh that's even worse. I don't even want to see it anymore. My grandfather fought for this," says Johnston. "It makes me want to cry."
Neighbors a few doors down say the stars and stripes have been hanging there upside down for more than year.
"We don't know. No one has ever asked him, everyone just looks in shock," says Smith.
So FOX23 News asked.
Alforrd: "Sir, can I ask you about your flag?...The reason I'm here is because someone called me because they are upset about your upside down flag."
The man says he lives there but doesn’t understand so I find a translator.
A different man answers the door and he says he doesn’t live there and we need to come back to talk to the homeowner.
Later we knocked on the door again and no one answered.
After we leave the FOX23 News at 10 live shot, the owner comes out and apologizes for hanging the flag upside down. He didn’t know how to hang the flag but says he is proud of America.
FOX23 News told him hanging the flag upside down is sign of distress.
He didn’t want to be on camera but says he will properly hang the flag and took the flag inside his home.
Americans have expectations on how to treat Old Glory. Some of the etiquette is not letting the anything beneath it touch the flag such as the ground, no other flag should fly above it and if it is worn or torn it should be burned in a dignified manner.
There is nothing illegal about defacing the American flag. The Supreme Court ruled in 1974 that flying the flag upside down is constitutional.
