One Less American Flag flies

The following correspondence is a letter written by 2nd Vice Commander Frank D. Pedagno to the New York State Department of Parks & Recreation, Long Island State Park Region, concerning the Jones Beach Air Show for 2019. Courtesy of 2nd Vice Commander Frank D. Pedagno.

New York State Department of Parks and Recreation
Long Island State Park Region
Permit Office
P.O. Box 247
Babylon, N.Y. 11702-0247
Re: Permit # 19-0287

Dear Sir,

We request a refund for the $50 fee; paid by the Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion, for Permit #: 19-0287.

For the past four years, Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion, has attended the Memorial Day air show at Jones Beach and distributed American Flags free of charge to attendees at the show.  We do this to promote Patriotism and Americanism.  Our organization always set up a small tent; table and chairs from with to distribute American flags.  We usually distribute about 1500 flags at this event.

In March 2019, I applied for permit to again attend the event and distribute flags.  As in the past, I included in the application the necessity for the set-up of a small tent with table and chairs.  Each of our members, are wartime Veterans, most in their 70’s, the tent and chairs are not luxuries, they are necessities.  This has never been an issue in the Past.

In April 2019, we received an invoice which we duly paid and permit # 19-0287 was issued.

On review the permit, we noted the inclusion of a number of Special Conditions, one of with states “No Set up Permits - No Tents, Tables and Chairs.”  This was a new condition and was never noted in any of the past permits we had been issued, nor were we advised on this condition prior to payment.  Had we been advised of this new condition prior to payment, we would not have paid the fee since this new condition makes the permit useless to us since we cannot ask members to operate without a tent and table and chairs.

We therefore request a refund of the $50 fee and regret that there will be 1500 fewer flags flying at the Jones Beach Air Show this year.

For God and Country

Frank D. Pedagno
2nd Vice Commander
Merrick Post No. 1282
American Legion

CC: New York State Senator John E. Brooks
Commissioner Erik Kullesied