[Mpls] City Hall Flag

[Michael Atherton]

Ray Marshall wrote:

>  Pope John Paul II was not only a religious leader, he was 
>  the head of a nation with which the United States has 
>  diplomatic relations.

I really don't get all of this half-mast stuff.  Do we normally
lower the flag for the death of leaders of foreign countries?
>From my recollection lowering the flag was a special honor reserved
for very great and famous people who had make major contributions
to our country; dead presidents, etc.  Has it always been the
custom in Minnesota to lower the flag for individual soldiers and 
school children?  This seems to trivialize the sacrifice of the tens
of thousands of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the
World Wars and were never recognized individually. Do we just
lower the flag now because we are sad? Kind of like sticking
colored ribbons on the backs of our cars? Who makes the decision 
to lower the flag?  The City Council?

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park