According to a report from the Alaska Watchman, a local conservative publication, an anonymous construction worker at the park claimed that officials at Denali National Park demanded that the construction crew remove a 3 x 5 foot American flag that was affixed to one of the construction vehicles involved in the project. The report states that the demand was made on the “eve of Memorial Day weekend,” a time when Americans traditionally come together to honor those who have given their lives in service to the nation.
Senator Sullivan, in his letter to Director Sams, expressed outrage over the alleged incident, stating that it is particularly egregious in the lead-up to Memorial Day. He argued that the American flag should be celebrated, not censored, and that he could find no regulations that would prohibit the flying of American flags on public land.
The incident has sparked an apparent protest from Alaska residents, who have organized a “patriotic convoy with flags” from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Denali National Park on Sunday. The protest, which was organized on Facebook, had 23 confirmed participants and over 100 interested as of Sunday morning.
The National Park Service and Denali National Park have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
