I recently visited the beautiful Veterans Memorial Park on the banks of the Androscoggin River and was dismayed to see a number of small American flags stuck in the ground between the named monument stones and around the star honoring the Gold Star mothers.

Unlike the flags that are appropriately placed annually on the plots of veterans in our cemeteries in memory of the service and sacrifice they have made for our country, it is to my knowledge that the Veterans Memorial Park was set up to honor all veterans, living and deceased. It was not developed as a park in memory of deceased veterans.

Prominently displayed on flag poles at the entrance of the park are the American and Maine state flags, along with ones representing the various branches of the Armed Forces, and for those POW/MIA.

Therefore, I do not believe that it is appropriate to have all those small flags placed around the individual monuments.

Finally, in order to clear up any misunderstanding, perhaps thought should now be given to changing the name to just Veterans Park. It is my sincere hope that the current president of the L&A Veterans Council will give thought to those suggestions.

Dean Salvadaena, Auburn