Florida McDonald's will not take down its flag

MARIANNA, Fla. — McDonald’s will not remove its corporate flag from the same flagpole as the American flag, a request made by local veterans who believe it shows disrespect to the American flag and ignores the U.S. Flag Code.

In a statement released Friday, Cindi Talafous, Operations Manager of McDonald’s Corporation, said:

“The McDonald’s flag is not an advertising sign intended to solicit business, but rather a symbol intended to express who McDonald’s is as an organization. Just as the American flag symbolizes who we are as a nation, the McDonald’s flag honors the millions of McDonald’s employees and customers we serve every day. 

“McDonald’s recognizes the supreme honor and sacrifice of all military personnel who serve this great country. We have proudly supported the U.S. military for generations and continue to display the United States flag at restaurants across the United States to truly honor our country and the people who serve and have served in the military.”

Larry Roberts, a VFW member who sent McDonald’s a letter over the issue, said because by law McDonald’s is doing nothing wrong, he will drop the issue. It comes down to different interpretations of the Flag Code and advertising.

“Ninety percent of the people who say different don’t understand what the military fights for and what it stands for,” Roberts said. “They have a different interpretation of what’s right and what’s wrong. If they were in our shoes and knew what the flag is truly about and what everybody gives their life for they would understand. They interpret it differently because they don’t see it our way.”