Veterans and City Unite: Livingston Flag Pole Controversy Becomes Collaboration Success Story

A Community Comes Together

What started as a heated controversy over an unauthorized flag pole installation has transformed into a remarkable example of community collaboration and problem-solving. The Livingston City Commission's May 20 meeting showcased local government at its best—listening to citizens, addressing legitimate concerns, and finding creative solutions that honor everyone's priorities.

The breakthrough came when veterans, city officials, and commissioners worked together to turn conflict into cooperation, proving that even the most contentious issues can become opportunities for stronger community bonds.

The Challenge That Sparked Innovation

In early May, frustrated veterans took action after five years of waiting. The VFW installed an American flag pole in Sacajawia Park's traffic triangle, where a memorial had stood from 1991 until its removal in 2020. While the installation was done without permits, it reflected deep community sentiment about honoring veterans' service.

City Manager Grant Gager faced a complex challenge: respecting veterans while addressing legitimate safety and legal concerns. The unpermitted pole lacked required breakaway features for roadway installations and created potential liability issues. But rather than simply ordering removal, Gager worked to understand the community's needs and find solutions.

Voices of a Caring Community

The meeting revealed the depth of community feeling, with powerful testimony from veterans and supporters:

Desert Storm veteran Darren Bergson spoke with raw emotion: "That so-called memorial down there is my memorial. Desert Storm... That flag needs to be there. That is the American flag. If you've ever saw a coffin with an American flag draped on it, getting put on a C5, which we did every night in Afghanistan, you might have a little bit different attitude about it."

VFW Commander Eric Bradley emphasized the veterans' reasonable request: "All we asked for was an interim flag pole ahead of Memorial Day... We'd be more than happy to turn over the keys to the flag pole once we put a lock on it."

American Legion Commander John Jagger expressed the community's frustration but also hope: "It's a disgrace that that flag pole got taken down by the city and then nothing got done with it... Council Member Willich's recommendation suits us just fine."

Kelly Bishop brought broader perspective about community healing and collaborative possibilities: "This could be a really good opportunity for the VFW and the city to work together to maintain this pole... We could get some repair... become the best Livingston we can be."

Creative Leadership Finds the Way Forward

City Manager Gager demonstrated exceptional leadership by developing a comprehensive solution that addressed every concern:

Immediate Solutions:

• Work with VFW to officially transfer flag pole ownership to the city

• Engineer safety modifications to meet breakaway requirements

• Secure the flag with proper locking mechanisms

• Ensure proper lighting and maintenance

Long-term Vision:

• Expedite parts of the parks master plan process

• Create a permanent, accessible veterans memorial

• Establish clear policies for flag displays on public property

• Build ongoing partnerships with veterans organizations

Gager's approach showed how effective public administration can turn problems into opportunities: "I could certainly have our team look at starting to fast-track some of these improvements... I think we probably could work on the road reconfiguration in the next several months and we could get to a temporary monument that is in this location."

He outlined an exciting vision for collaboration: "I would recommend that whomever installed the pole and the city come to an agreement transferring the ownership of the pole to the city. That could happen very, very quickly, probably at the next meeting for your approval... I will also bring back a policy to the city commission related to the display of different flags on public property."

A Win-Win Solution Emerges

Commissioner James Willich proposed the breakthrough compromise:

"We leave the flag pole up. The VFW dedicates it to the city. We take over ownership and maintenance... with the understanding that that intersection will be addressed in the new master plan."

The solution brilliantly addresses every stakeholder:

• Veterans get their flag flying for Memorial Day and beyond

• City gets proper ownership and safety compliance

• Community gets a path to a permanent, dignified memorial

• Everyone gets a model for future collaboration

Vice Chair Nootz captured the collaborative spirit perfectly: "This could be a really good opportunity for the VFW and the city to work together... if you want to volunteer with us by maintaining a pool, please reach out to the city manager... We could become the best Livingston we can be. That's pretty visionary, but you're in the military so you can handle that. I'm sure you can handle big ideas, right?"

Kelly Bishop's Vision for Community Partnership

Kelly Bishop offered an inspiring perspective on the potential for this controversy to become something greater:

"This could be an this could be a really good opportunity for the VFW and the city to work together to maintain this pool. If you all are still willing and able, that could be a real help because this costs taxpayer money. And like if folks want to volunteer with the city, I want to encourage that. Not just to save money, but because it's the right thing to do, it's the right thing to do to serve our community."

Her message embodied the transformative potential of the moment: "Like we could end up better than just a flag pool and a flag, right? We could we could get some repair. It seems like we need it. A lot of people in this room seem to be hurting. Yeah, there's a way to do that. Um I would like to see us do more than just a flag pole and maybe maybe work together and become the best living we can be."

Why This Matters for Livingston's Future

This resolution demonstrates several crucial principles:

Effective Government: City Manager Gager and the commission showed they can balance legal requirements with community values, finding creative solutions rather than rigid enforcement.

Veteran Recognition: The community affirmed its commitment to honoring military service while creating pathways for even better recognition.

Collaborative Problem-Solving: When citizens and officials work together respectfully, even contentious issues can strengthen community bonds.

Setting Precedent: The process establishes a model for handling future disagreements through dialogue and compromise.

What Happens Next - Building on Success

The momentum from this success creates exciting opportunities:

Immediate Actions:

• Formal ownership transfer and safety modifications at the next commission meeting

• Development of volunteer maintenance partnerships with veterans organizations

• Creation of comprehensive flag policy (American, Montana state, POW/MIA, and city flags)

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Exciting Long-term Possibilities:

• Design of a world-class veterans memorial with community input through the expedited parks master plan process

• Enhanced park improvements creating a beautiful, accessible space for reflection

• Stronger ongoing partnerships between veterans and city government

• A model other communities can follow for collaborative governance

Engineering Innovation: Gager outlined creative solutions: "We could probably put a break in that pole and have some shear pins. So, when a certain level of force impacted the pole, the shear pins would shear and the pole would come down... We do have an AWA certified welder on staff. So a lot of this initial work probably in-house."

How Citizens Can Stay Engaged

This success story shows the power of constructive civic engagement:

For Veterans and Supporters:

• Stay involved in the memorial design process through upcoming public meetings

• Consider volunteer opportunities for flag and memorial maintenance

• Share ideas for honoring all service members in the permanent memorial

For All Residents:

• Attend future meetings on the parks master plan rollout

• Provide input on memorial design and location

• Support collaborative approaches to community challenges

• Engage directly with commissioners rather than relying on social media

Contact Information:

• City commissioners' emails and phone numbers are available on the city website

• City Manager Gager welcomes ongoing dialogue: reach out through city hall or the public works facility

• Vice Chair Nudes' email: n.nudes@livingstonmontana.org

A Model for Montana Communities

Livingston's approach offers a template for other communities facing similar challenges. By combining respect for veterans, attention to safety, fiscal responsibility, and genuine collaboration, the city demonstrated that local government can work effectively even on emotionally charged issues.

City Manager Gager's leadership exemplified professional public service—taking complex legal and safety concerns seriously while remaining open to creative solutions that honor community values. His willingness to fast-track parts of the parks master plan shows responsive government in action.

The flag now flies proudly while safety concerns are being addressed, veterans feel heard and respected, and the community moves forward together toward an even better memorial. It's a reminder that democracy works best when citizens and officials approach challenges with good faith, creativity, and shared commitment to community values.

The Bigger Picture

As Chair Schwarz noted, this wasn't really about the flag—it was about process, safety, and community relationships. But the resolution proves that good process and community safety can coexist with honoring deeply held values.

Commissioner Kale's observation resonates: "This could be a really good opportunity for the VFW and the city to work together to maintain this pole... Like we could end up better than just a flag pole and a flag, right?"

This isn't just about a flag pole—it's about how a community can honor its values while building a stronger future together. The American flag now flies over Livingston as a symbol not just of patriotism, but of what's possible when people work together with mutual respect and creative problem-solving.

The best part? This is just the beginning. The permanent memorial, the enhanced parks, the stronger partnerships between veterans and city government—all of these exciting developments lie ahead, built on the foundation of this collaborative success.