One Of Iowa's Biggest Flags Is Coming Down

Just 118 miles from the Quad Cities lies Independence IA.  A town I know because the Greyhound bus stopped there on my way from Dubuque to Minneapolis.  (Actually, the bus stopped in EVERY town on the route, but that's another story).  Independence is a town that considers itself patriotic (uh, the name is INDEPENDENCE).  And a town that for years has flown a giant American flag that became kind of a calling card, a claim to fame.  But the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported last month that the Independence City Council voted unanimously to take the flag down, due to costs involved with replacing the flag, lighting problems, and a broken electronic sign.  But they WILL keep it up through Memorial Day weekend.  So if your travels this holiday take you near Independence, take a good last look and salute 'Old Glory' for maybe the last time.