Thirty Two Flags Will Fly Again

The memorial of thirty-two flags standing in front of Blacksburg Baptist Church honored fallen students and touched the hearts of all that saw it. After battling the elements the flags were taken down in fall 2007; however, the church says the flags will fly again.

The reasoning for the removal of the flags is just. Over time the memorial became a site of vandalism in Blacksburg.

Vandals along North Main Street defaced the memorial in almost every way imaginable. The ropes used to hold, raise and lower the flags were cut on more than one occasion. The church placed signs to explain the memorials were stolen.

In addition to damage from vandalizing, weather conditions took their toll on the flags. The flags flow outside were intended for indoor display and became faded from the sun and ripped from the wind.

Pastor Tommy R. McDearis of Blacksburg Baptist Church did say that the flags will fly again from April 12 until April 20. They will then be given to the families of the victims that they honor.

When the flags were taken down, the church became the brunt of a number of rumors. Stories spread of lawsuits against the church by the families of the victims that forced the flags’ removal.

Others thought the officials of the town, in their dislike of the memorial, forced the church into taking action. Virginia Tech students become angry at the thought of the church supposedly turning its back on the university, accusing the church of “folding under pressure.”

McDearis constantly attempts to reassure the community that none of the rumors are true. He supports and defends his church’s decision by saying, “Our problem was the fact that the flags were becoming so tattered as to be disrespectful of the victims and their families.”