LEWISTON — The two women remained nameless but that did not diminish the ardor of their mission. For most of the afternoon Thursday, the pair roamed the Twin Cities taking notes on which flags were being flown at half-staff and which were not.

The final tally was overwhelming: just about all of the American flags flying over Lewiston and Auburn were at the top of the poles in spite of a governor’s order issued earlier in the week.

“In remembrance and honor of Private First Class Jordan M. Brochu,” the official order stated, “Governor John E. Baldacci has directed that the United States flag and the State of Maine flag be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009.”

According to the Department of Defense, Brochu died Aug. 31 while serving in Afghanistan. Brochu’s family lives in Oakland.

It was in his honor that the anonymous women were about the task of flag patrol.

“This kid fought for us and today is his day,” the older of the women said. “And yet most of the flags are all the way up. It isn’t right.”

It wasn’t just the small random business or house, either. Most government buildings, schools and banks flew flags that were fully raised. That included City Hall and the Police Department in Lewiston — although flags at the fire station and public works were displayed correctly — as well as the post offices in both cities.

It also included the Sun Journal.

The explanation from just about everybody was the same: No disrespect was intended. It’s just that the lines of communication between the governor’s office, municipalities and the people who raise and lower flags is not always perfect.

“It wasn’t intentional,” Lewiston City Clerk Kathy Montejo said. “I’m sure it was an oversight. We’re usually very vigilante about complying with these orders.”

What happens is this: The governor’s office puts out a memo advising city leaders across the state about the half-staff order. Most cities and towns subscribe to the governor’s mailing list and so they see the memo and alert the proper people to take care of the flags.

The breakdown on Wednesday may have been the result of broken communication or simple confusion: Flags have been ordered flown at half-staff on Friday, Sept. 11, which has been declared Patriot Day. City and town leaders have been preparing for that and may have misunderstood the notice that went out about Thursday’s order.

At the Lewiston Police Department, Chief Michael Bussiere said he had heard about Friday’s order but not the one on Thursday.

“That’s something we want to comply with,” the chief said.

While on the phone with a reporter, Bussiere waved over a station employee and instructed him to bring the flag to half-staff immediately.

At the Sun Journal, it was the same thing. A human resources spokeswoman said they had not received the notice from the governor’s office. Once told about the order, they made arrangements to have their flag on Pine Street lowered halfway.

The two women who spent their day spreading the word said they witnessed similar compliance from some businesses and city officials. Once told about the order, flags came down to the half-staff position. That’s what happened at the Auburn Fire Department where the flag facing Minot Avenue was midway up the pole Thursday afternoon where it had been all the way up earlier in the day.

As for private businesses and homes, there is not much city officials can do about that.

“Each individual business and each individual flag owner is responsible for their own flag maintenance,” Montejo said.
She was not approached by the women who so carefully took inventory of flag displays, but Montejo commended them nonetheless.

“Good for them for caring enough to point it out,” she said.

Lest any business, homeowner or city official forget, the governor’s order for Friday is as follows:

“In accordance with Federal Public law 107-89, designating September 11th each year as ‘Patriot Day,’ Governor John Baldacci has directed that the United States flag and the State of Maine flag be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday, Sept. 11, 2009.”