Salem, Oregon - Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski asked that all flags at public institutions be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 in memory and honor of Private First Class Specialist Ricky W. Rockholt Jr., of Winston, Oregon.

WILLMAR, Minn. (AP) - The red bull insignia of the Army National Guard's 34th Infantry Division is now charging out of more than the patches on their uniforms.

A family support group recently began selling flags and banners featuring the symbol as a way to support the local troops. The sales have been so brisk the group is considering setting up a scholarship fund.

"There's just a tremendous amount of interest" in the items, said Bruce Tengwall, a member of the support group.

The division's uniforms have a patch with a red silhouette of a bull's head. It signifies the division's history, which dates back to World War I.

"I've got a lot of pride in carrying that red bull patch on my shoulder," said Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Kohlman of the Minnesota National Guard armory in Appleton.

Family members wanted to spread some of that pride at home. Soldiers make sure to wear the red bull symbol when they serve overseas.

Soldiers have marked their barracks in Iraq with red bull stencils and stickers "so that they'll know we were here," Kohlman said.

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Breakthrough Over Flag-Flying In Town

By Elinor Glynn

Tuesday 3rd May 2005

Paramilitary emblems are to be run down the flagpoles in Larne.

As the marching season gets underway, the number of flags flying above paraders will be cut to a tenth of current levels in the town.

The breakthrough on the contentious issue of flag-flying in public places was reached following months of negotiations between representatives of community groups and loyalist organisations.

It is understood an agreement amongst the parties has determined that paramilitary flags will only be raised for four weeks in July and only in designated loyalist areas of the borough.

The present number currently up on masts of about 100 will be slashed to 10.

No paramilitary emblems will be flown on main routes in or around the town and none will be permitted in the vicinity of churches or schools in a bid to curb offence.

The measures drawn up also cover Union and Ulster flags which are now to be flown within loyalist communities at a distance from the centre of Larne.

Last summer, a number of public order incidents arose out of the erection of paramilitary flags outside homes in a number of mixed residential areas in the town highlighting the need for a grassroots initiative.

The result of long-running talks between community representatives and loyalist groups is thought to be unique to Larne.

It comes just one month after a new Province-wide protocol was launched by the PSNI, Northern Ireland Office and statutory agencies to stamp out the use of paramilitary flags and emblems as a means of intimidation.

While supportive of the policy, East Antrim MP Roy Beggs says it could go even further. "I respect the Union and Ulster flags and fully support them flying during the celebrations in July but deplore the misuse of any flag or emblem to intimidate those who may differ from our political and cultural views," said the Ulster Unionist.

"The flying of paramilitary flags only serves to divide the community and inflame sectarian passions.

"I believe the flying of any paramilitary flags is a practice that should be consigned totally to the past."

September 12, 2002

By The Associated Press

The flags were everywhere: Hanging from a fire engine ladder at the state Capitol, waving in a child’s clenched fist at Daley Plaza in Chicago, lining the streets in tiny DeSoto.

On a calm, clear Wednesday, people from across Illinois remembered the Sept. 11 of a year ago, when a similarly placid day turned chaotic amid news that terrorists had crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"This is to honor our fallen brethren in New York and also the people that were lost in the tragic event that happened. We’re showing America cannot be defeated," William Schatz, a Chicago Fire Department district chief, said at a firehouse memorial.

About 60 children from Chicago’s Drummond School joined firefighters in saluting flags raised and then lowered to half-staff. Briana Cordero, a 10-year-old fifth-grader, presented the firefighters with a card signed by her classmates.

"There’s no reason to be scared," Briana said after the ceremony. "We just need to be here to hope and to appreciate the firemen, show them they are heroes to us."

At the state Capitol, Gov. George Ryan spoke to a few hundred people at the state’s memorial to fallen firefighters and police officers. Behind him, a flag flapped from the extended rescue ladder of a fire engine.

"When tragedy struck, it was the firefighters and the police officers who ignored their own safety and ran to the towers to rescue as many people as they could," Ryan said.

Jews, Muslims and Christians prayed together at Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church, where more than 1,000 people packed the pews for an interfaith service.

"I needed to be able to openly grieve with people that I care about," said Andi Morris, who came to the service in her American Airlines flight attendant uniform. Morris said she had friends who died aboard the two American Airlines planes hijacked last Sept. 11.

Leila Shahbandar, a 22-year-old Chicagoan, attended the service wearing her traditional Muslim head scarf.

"As a Muslim, I think it’s important to show that I feel as much pain as everyone else, that we need to be united," Shahbandar said.

Thousands also gathered at Chicago’s Daley Plaza to sing and pray.