There are plenty of major risks involved in using modern American highways. But well-managed, patriotic displays on highway overpasses are not among them.
So shame on the Massachusetts Highway Department for its recent ban on those displays, claiming that they are too much of a safety hazard. But congratulations to Gov. Deval Patrick for having the good sense to freeze the ban, at least until the end of the month, while representatives of veterans groups and MassHighway discuss ways to come up with a compromise. It would have been better for him to reverse the ban outright, but at least this is a start.
The ban has special resonance in this region, since it would destroy the longtime efforts of Methuen's Jim Sereigo-Wareing to honor the sacrifice and, in some cases, the memories of area servicemen and women. Sereigo-Wareing has been posting displays on area overpasses since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
One in particular, on Howe Street in Haverhill overlooking Route 213, is a tribute to Army Specialist Alex Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, who has been missing in Iraq since May 12.
Sadly, none of that matters to MassHighway.
According to highway officials, flags, cups, sheets, banners or anything else mounted on the fences of highway overpasses are too dangerous, because they could fall into the roadway, land on a car and cause an accident.
Well, yes, they could. Anything is possible. A random piece of paper could also blow into the road and cause the same thing. A rock could fly up from the tire of a car or truck and crack a windshield - it has happened many times. Snow could blow off the roof of another vehicle. Salt on the roads during the winter is enough to leave drivers half blinded, even with their wipers and washers working full-time. Solar glare can blind drivers for more than just a few seconds. An animal could run across the road.
But, so far, MassHighway has not offered a single documented case of an overpass display causing an accident. This is all based on what might happen. And if we live and work and drive based on what might happen, we won't be doing much living, working and driving. They all come with risks.
It is reasonable to limit the displays - there is a big difference between one that honors a soldier like Jimenez and one that simply declares Johnny's love for Susie. It is also reasonable to require any display to be mounted on the inside of the fence of the overpass, so that if it does fall, it won't be into the highway. Sereigo-Wareing already takes that precaution.
That is plenty of protection for motorists. And it would still permit one of the few things that unites an otherwise fractious society.
As Sereigo-Wareing put it, "It's not just a flag on a bridge. The flag has meaning. It's to honor the troops. The sacrifice soldiers and their families pay is immense."
Yes. That sacrifice deserves a high-profile acknowledgement. Gov. Patrick seems to get it. MassHighway ought to get it too.
