A new American flag is now flying over the Richmond Central Post Office at 2nd and Grace Streets.
RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – A tattered American flag flying above the Richmond Central Post Office at 2nd and Grace Streets has been replaced. CBS 6 reporter Mark Holmberg highlighted the flag Wednesday night in a story about a local war veteran who was concerned about the flag’s condition.
U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Michelle Martel said they had been working to replace the flag before Mark’s story aired, but that specific location required a bucket truck to do the work. She said the new flag is too large, so a right-sized flag is now on order.
This week Vietnam War veteran Darryl Starr contacted CBS 6 and he noticed the flag’s condition and alerted postal workers.
“I immediately went into the post office, waited in line and spoke with the clerks and said, ‘Have you all seen the flag outside?’ And they said no. It’s really a travesty and it shouldn’t be like that,” he said in an interview Wednesday night. Starr said he also went to the main post office on Brook Road and talked with a supervisor, who assured him the situation would be taken care of immediately. But he said he had little confidence of a quick delivery on that promise.
“Then I emailed the Postmaster General to let them know what was happening with the American flag on their post office,” Starr said.
Thursday morning he wrote CBS 6 an email:
“I want to thank WTVR and Mark Holmberg for your reporting of the American flag story. It has resulted in a brand new flag flying over the PO this morning. The pen is mighty. Keep up the good fight.”
Martel said nearly a third of postal service employees are veterans and it was never their intention to disrespect the flag.
