Wyoming

800 Series Barrier Cracked 3 Times In Empire Arcade Classic At Chacko's

By CHRISTINA DUBITSKY cdubitsky@leader.net
 Monday, February 12, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





Bob Kurtinitis says if you're going to fly an American flag, fly it
correctly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If you don't, you'll be hearing from him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kurtinitis, of Orange, and his friend Bud Castner, of Edwardsville, are
Vietnam veterans and self-proclaimed flag advocates who notice when Old Glory
is tattered or wrapped around its pole. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We pay attention to flags,'' Kurtinitis said. ``If a flag is flown it
should be pretty.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In September, when he attended a concert at the First Union Area,
Kurtinitis noticed the flag was ragged. He approached a supervisor and asked
him to replace the flag or take it down. About 15 days later, new stars and
stripes were flapping in the wind. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The advocates' latest endeavor involves the flag outside the General
Service Administration building at 7 N. Wilkes-Barre Blvd. in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kurtinitis said the flag has been in terrible shape since December. He and
Castner called representatives of Congressman Paul Kanjorski's office (located
in the building), but they said they had no control over it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``This is an insult. Nobody is doing anything about it.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Just take it down. We'd rather see the pole naked,'' Castner said. ``I
pass by there every morning. A tear wells in my eye when I look at it.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ray Foote, field officer manager of the building, said the building is
leased from Keating Development, which is aware of the problem. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We just can't get it down,'' Foote said. He said the owner will soon hire
a company to take the flag and rope down. When they replace it, it will be
better equipped to withstand the weather. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kurtinitis said there are two other shabby flags he would like to see
removed. He plans to contact the owner of one, near a gas station in Hazleton.
He will make a second call when he can determine who owns the other in
Pittston Township. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It's not just a veteran thing. Everyone should have respect for it and
what it stands for,'' Castner said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Christina Dubitsky, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at
829-7236. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

2 Vietnam Veterans Aim To Get Rid Of Worn, Torn American Flags Found Flying Around The Area Keeping Old Glory Glorious