Sarah Kloepping

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Clarence Launderville never forgets what the American flag stands for. But a day after Memorial Day, he felt like City of Manitowoc employees had.

While on his way to work from Mishicot, the U.S. Army veteran said he saw dozens of American flags haphazardly piled on top of each other in the back of a Public Works vehicle.

"American flags just tossed into the dirty bed of this truck. There was no flag etiquette ... it was like a pile of dirty laundry," he said. "I am appalled by this display of lack of respect to the flags that were just days before being flown across the city of Manitowoc in honor of those who sacrificed all for the ideals and beliefs that these very flags stand for."

Launderville posted a photo of the truck on Facebook Tuesday morning. He didn't expect such a large response — both from other angered citizens and from city officials apologizing for the neglectful treatment of the flags.

"I feel my response was completely and utterly justified. It was just really upsetting," he said. "(Memorial Day) isn't just an excuse to go out and grill. People died and are continuing to die for the rights we have."

If the flags had been neatly placed in some sort of container, Launderville said he wouldn't have thought anything of it.

Dan Koski, director of Public Infrastructure, said in a statement posted on Facebook by Mayor Justin Nickels that a policy will be developed and employees will be trained to ensure appropriate flag etiquette is followed in the future.

"This will not happen again. We are handling the situation as far as the employees responsible for (Tuesday's) breach of etiquette and they will be reprimanded appropriately," he said. "On behalf of the City of Manitowoc, please accept our apologies. In no way was the act intentional, nor was it meant to convey any sort of disrespect for the flag of our great country."

Veteran Walter Specht — known as the "Flag Man" in Manitowoc for passing out thousands of flags annually at the Memorial Day parade — said the symbols of freedom should be treated like gold.

"That's not respectful whatsoever," he said of how the city transported the flags. "They're a sacred thing ... because of the men and women who made the supreme sacrifice."

Launderville said he received a quick response from multiple city officials after posting the photo.

"I'm not trying to point fingers at anybody in particular, but that is just a sensitive subject," he said. "The swift and justified response I got from the city employees, including the mayor, was more than satisfying."

Reach Sarah Kloepping at 920-686-2105 or skloepping@htrnews.com.