Editor,

You have completely missed the point of COER’s vigil and the flying of the American flag upside down.

It wasn’t intended to infuriate or otherwise antagonize Navy personnel or folks who want to keep the OLF open.

It was to graphically point out to all of you how much distress the Growlers are causing the Central Whidbey community.

This is a health and safety issue.

Thirty-six U.S. Code section 176 provides: “The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

What more potent and obvious message could we have sent to the other side to try to get them to understand the dire distress and danger the Growlers pose to our community?

The message in opposition to COER always boils down the same way: The Oak Harbor economy is more important than the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Central Whidbey and now, as we see, to the region at large.

Last week, 150 of your fellow citizens stood in the rain for two hours to send a message to the rest of you that that sentiment is wrong. And that was the point of the story you should have emphasized in your editorial.

Paula Spina, secretary/director

Citizens of the Ebey’s Reserve