To the editor:

In December I had the honor to participate in the Wreaths Across America event at the RI Veterans Cemetery. The only flags displayed in official capacity on the 280-acre property aligned with the US Flag Code. Why does the Barrington Town Council continue to violate the US Flag Code, especially on the Veterans Memorial? 

After opposing the flag policy, the Barrington Veterans were stripped of their Memorial Day planning duties. After meeting with members of the Town Council over the course of a year they were reinstated by a slim majority vote of 3-2. I am disappointed in the two councilors, Annelise Conway and Braxton Cloutier, who voted against returning the parade planning duties to our Veteran volunteers.

Recently, the Town Council President tried one last time to reach a compromise between the Council and the  Veterans regarding the divisive flag policy. The compromise was supported by a majority of residents who spoke both during a prior policy hearing and when it came up again last year. 

Council President Carl Kustell failed to secure a majority vote for a compromise and that seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for the Barrington United Veterans Council. Christians, and now Veterans, apparently don’t fall under the protection of DEI in Barrington. National political agendas have worked their way into our once welcoming town and turned it into one of divisiveness and exclusion. 

We need leaders who will work with one another, not vilify those who don’t toe the line. We need to think of all residents when policies and budgets are decided. Our School Committee and Town Council need to support each other and work together.  

I hope that a compromise can be reached. This would be a good step in restoring respect for all who make up our community. The three Town Councilors who voted against the flag compromise, Kate Berard, Cloutier and Conway, should follow the lead of their President who is trying to find common ground when personal opinions seem far apart. 

Lisa Daft

Barrington