Last week we celebrated Flag Day, and appropriately many members of our community proudly displayed their stars and stripes. It was the first Flag Day since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and as a result there were probably more flags than usual gracing our neighborhoods. But I believe that the day was sullied and demeaned by the actions of local real estate agents representing Claire Sobel Realty. On June 13, the day before Flag Day, several Sobel agents stormed through our community placing crudely-made, cheap-looking plastic flags on everybody's lawn, not asking homeowner permission, nor caring that the business cards stapled to the flags' stems were an egregious insult to the memory of 9-11. We all know how outlandishly aggressive real estate agents can be, but this was an exercise in extreme poor taste, as well as an insult to those who were lost, those who served, and those of us who place a value on remembering such a grievous American tragedy. Claire Sobel, you should bow your head in shame and never sink to such a low point ever again.

Sheldon L. Tarakan