Better ask Barry: Missing flags at VA clinic

This began with a phone call to KION: “Yeah, a brand new multi million dollar VA hospital over in Monterey does not have one damn flag flying for weeks. This is a military area .. what the heck is going on? We’d like to find out. We’re veterans- we’re not happy with it.”

The caller was referring to the Major General William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic in Marina.

There are plenty of flag poles available – six are front and center and two are on the side. The tallest one displays the U.S. and POW-MIA flags.

Presumably, the other poles could be used for the flags of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, but the VA says that’s not possible. They say it’s a matter of pole placement and protocol.

In a statement, the VA said, “The flagpoles at the Maj. Gen. William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic are not properly placed. We do not own the facility – this is a leased building. We have been aware of this issue and understand it stems from the contractor who built the clinic. We have previously shared this matter with our veterans and employees.

“Due to the location of the tallest pole being in the wrong position, we are unable to fly the other flags since other flags cannot be flown to the left of the American flag. Since this does not impact care, this matter will be bundled with the next proposal of modifications. Our primary focus is to continue to provide high quality care to our veterans.”

The contractor, Otto Construction, says it installed the flag poles correctly, according to the design submitted and overseen by the VA.

Replacing or removing the poles will require time. The VA doesn’t own the building, and a spokesperson says since this doesn’t impact patient care, they’ll bundle it into the next round of modifications.

No date has been set for that process, so for the time being, what you see (or don’t see) is what you get.

Got a question? Better ask Barry.

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