Give us all the facts

Oh, come on! That seems to be the reaction I often express while reading news or hearing national radio or television broadcasts. The latest was due to the Democrat-Gazette staff compilation on President Trump reversing a decision to fly flags at full staff at all federal buildings after the “brief” period of being at half-staff Saturday and Sunday in honor of the death of Sen. John McCain.

I, too, was incensed at the news of the short duration of the flag flying at half-staff, thinking that the bitterness between the president and the senator was the cause of the “slight.” But, no; I was duped … for a short while.

Recalling my Boy Scouts training on flag protocol, I reviewed the directive when the flags are to be lowered, for how long and for whom. I then understood that proper protocol for the late senator had been followed.

Quoting the directive: “The flag is to be flown at half-staff at all federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels in the Washington, D.C., area on the day and day after the death of a United States senator, representative, territorial delegate, or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.”

Look it up yourself: tinyurl.com/flagprotocol.

I relish the day when I trusted what I was being offered by the media and did not have to do research into whether a topic had been adequately covered or just partially so.

Who? What? When? Where? Why? That is what I was taught in English class on how to present news. Give the readers all of the facts, please. WILLIAM HOYT Russellville