Very few people on this blog have been as critical of the antics of Guardencio Fernandez as I have. Today I am happy to announce that has changed. Earlier in the week I got an email telling me that 39 flag poles were being planted over at 9500 Liberty Street. The possibilities were endless. Then one of the roving reporters told me flags of many nations had gone up. Our contributors wrote out descriptions of what had been erected. My curiosity was killing me. Finally the rains were over and the sun was shining so I drifted on over to the City, stopping to vote first, visited KK’s and then rolled on around to 9500.
I love flags. They are beautiful. They provide lots and lots of color and texture without ever being gaudy. They wave and float in the wind. They catch the sun and they ride the wind, like a colorful seagull. They own the skies around them. Even at night, flags, if properly lit, still cast their color magic, perhaps with a little less gusto but they still let you know they are there.
If Mr. Fernandez planted all those flag poles and adorned them with flags of many nations, just to poke a stick in the eye of the City, it backfired. The flags are truly beautiful and adorn that part of the historic district with a wonderful splash of color. The American flag is the crown jewel of his colonnade of flags.
I am going to look at the better part of human nature and declare that the war is over. Everyone wins. Mr. F gets the final word but in such a wonderful way. He has beautified the City and sent a reminder that we are really a people from everywhere. I never thought I would say it but….Good Job, Mr. Fernandez.
Now THAT is a gorgeous piece (and peace) of poetic justice!
Yawwwnnnnnnnn
Emma, apparently everyone else had the same reaction you did. I am just glad he has stopped doing what he was doing.
He needs a Gadsen Flag…… 😉
I am sure he would accept a donation.
The snake is one of the symbols on the Mexican Flag.
http://razorfamilyfarms.com/blog/wp-content/mexico_flag.jpg
City Folks, what is your opinion? The silence is deafening.
I just like flags. Maybe no one else does?
I’m a former city resident but don’t care what Fernandez does anymore. He’s yesterday’s news and had his 15 minutes of fame. He cost city taxpayers plenty of money in all the court time and lawyers spent on him. I don’t think anyone still a resident will look favorably on this flag display as a result of that. Sorry, he strung the city along and hurt the city’s image downtown, so now people are to forgive him for this flag display? I think not.
So you are saying he can do nothing to redeem himself?
I thought it was positive after all the ugly things I have seen on that site.
Translation: I thought might be best to speak positively about it …old psychology major here.
As one of “dem der City folk”, I went back down and walked around the fence line looking at the flags (with a little book about flags) and was right on my hunch it represents countries where people are immigrating from.
After all the prior years, I personally think like you, Moon. It adds a distinctive touch to Old Town, plus will add a nice touch for the upcoming Veterans’ Parade. I am crossing my fingers Mr. F. does no more than just have the flags – well, maybe planting some bulbs now so flowers bloom in the Spring.
This should be part of Old Town’s “walking tour”.
Coming from the City neighborhood where one of our residents lines up white bicycles with artwork of yellow chicks and red umbrellas on them, I think it’s just fine.
I’m more bothered by businesses that fly the American flag until it’s torn and faded gray and pink. We should do a “replace and retire” campaign each Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, to remind and encourage people to replace their flag, fly it properly and retire it respectfully.
Thanks for that report, Mr. B. And thanks for taking the time to go look up the flags.
I just think it is time Mr. F becomes PART of the community rather than its detractor.
Cindy, that bicycle house has been there, with the bikes, ever since I have lived in this area. It really is a Manassas icon. I like the replace and retire idea very much. Many there could be a special fund for such things so citizens could throw in 10 bucks every so often. Maybe some of the scouts could take on the retirement process.
I remember my Girl Scout troop (10+ years ago) collected flags and turned them in to the American Legion. They had a ceremony and flag retirement (burning in a container) at Nelson Park.
Someone needs to pick the baton back up on that one. What a good idea. Most people have no idea how to dispose of a flag properly.
I haven’t driven past Mr. F’s flag display, but it looks nice in the picture. It’s a positive reminder of the contributions of immigrants and the many areas from which they come. Too bad it couldn’t have been the message that replaced the third sign.
Since your picture was taken, a new flag has appeared with the Star of David on it,
and unlike the others that follow traditional protocol, it isn’t slightly lower than
the United States flag – it is slightly above and in orange and black. Que pasa?
Know Fernandez has tried to equate the deportation of illegal immigrant felons
with the Holocaust, including wearing a Star of David patch, but it only
shows his ignorance of history and his loathing for the laws of our country
and for all United States citizens.
He can put more flags up and I can take my complement to him down. Someone said it was an orange star of david? HUH?
I hate having to drive back over, but if I must…….
I hate when people I have praised shoot themselves in the foot.
Its almost like a betrayal of sorts.
Big Dog, the flags look like they are at various heights. I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Orange & Black Star of David??? Ok, he ain’t making a reference to the Israelites, that’s for sure. Their flag is blue stripes & Star, with white background.
I am actually laughing as I write this – I know the flag BD is talking about. It was created by the Protestants in Ulster, Ireland to counter the Catholics. All part of that long, too too long, conflict. The Protestants made it to signify they were the Promised Land so they could steal the “thunder” the Catholics kept quoting how God made Ireland the Promised Land.
Wonder if Mr. F realizes it…LOL…probably not! As for the US Flag not being higher than the rest (since Mr. F probably did not bother to check, just planted), if City Zoning wanted to push it, there are clear enough Federal & State Laws that say everybody else should be just a smiggen lower. But I think he just planted and raised with no slight intended.
@Raymond B
The day I was over there the American Flag was at least a foot taller than the other flags. Maybe the flag pole sunk????
I’d like to know what that Orange/Black flag with Star of David is too! It isn’t Israel’s flag as other’s have noted. I wonder if there’s a hidden message behind it….
Sorry, unless he reimburses the city financially for all the trouble he caused – the lawyer’s fees, and so on, I don’t see how this should redeem him. Maybe I’m in the minority and everyone else is more forgiving, but so be it – I don’t mind being the lone voice out there at all!
And, I’m guessing that Orange/Black flag isn’t something complimentary to the Israelis/Jews!
But only the US flag sunk and not the others. Seems to me they all would have sunk at roughly an equal rate as ground wetness and hardness wouldn’t be too much different from one to the other. Seems highly improbable only US flag sunk out of all the others! The laws of probability aren’t in favor of that!
I would agree that he probably didn’t know the US flag should be higher than the other flags. I’ll give him that much, but not much more!
GR, Actually I was being sarcastic. I hadn’t read all the remarks. I was ‘behind the scenes’ reading from within the software when I answered.
No problem MH. Too bad he possibly did something to make you take back your compliment. Well, the jury’s still out I guess, but something seems a bit odd, with that orange/black Star of David flag for sure. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt not knowing the US flag should be higher than all others.
He did cost the city of Manassas a lot of money in legal fees, so I doubt too many Manassas residents look very kindly upon him, if just for that reason alone! It also started WAY before the signs, they were pursuing him for zoning violations well before the signs. He’s been a thorn in the city’s side for a long time. Also, the most unforgivable sign was that one calling out a specific police officer – anyone who does that is un-redeemable in my book.
I’m NOT wasting my time on this one. I’m with Emma, yawn.
I have a feeling a lot of people (including me) share Emma and Lafayette’s sentiments. He’s yesterday’s news, if you ask me. When he writes a check to the City for all he cost it, then he’d be redeemed in my book. Since that isn’t going to happen, I could care less what he does other than hopefully not cost the City anymore money or hurt its image any further.
GR, don’t know if his wife or he has written the check yet, but the case in the local civil and criminal court was lost by them, and when they appealed to Richmond, they did not file properly and the case was refused. Have not heard if they are going to try Virginia Supreme Court, but since they lost in both of our local courts, doubtful it would even be considered.
Needless to say, two wins by the City in both aspects makes for solid ground if anything is tried again.
Agreed, Raymond. I would hope the Virginia Supreme Court would just refuse to hear the case, if it is filed there.