Veteran, DRPA commissioner get flag flying
By Brian Arrington - barrington@sjnewsco.com
DEPTFORD TWP. -- Otto Gollon said it always irked him that the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag was not flown on Delaware River Port Authority buildings and structures.
So the former township councilman, state political action committee chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and DRPA employee for 12 years began lobbying DRPA officials about flying the flag.
He had no luck.
"I got nowhere," the 71-year-old Navy veteran said. "They bounced me from one place to another. I was getting frustrated."
In September 2002, township Deputy Mayor Jacquelyn Love was appointed as a DRPA commissioner and Gollon saw his opening.
"I thought she could help," he said. "I went to her and explained the situation to her and asked 'Could you please bring this up at a commissioners' meeting?' "
She did, and DRPA officials agreed to fly the flag six days per year following federal guidelines.
"That upset me even more than before," he said. "POWs are not held six days a year and MIAs are not missing six days per year. That flag represents everything we had fought for. I wasn't going to let it lie and once again I brought it to the attention of (Love)."
This time Love approached DRPA head John Matheussen about flying the flag all year round. He agreed and on July 9, he put out a directive that the DRPA would fly the flag 365 days a year.
Gollon and Tony Halas, the state VFW POW/ MIA chairman, thought so much of Love's efforts they presented her with a plaque thanking her before council Monday.
"It is a tribute (to POWs) letting them know that we will not forget them," Love said. "I appreciate being the person to carry the flag, so to speak."
©2004 Gloucester County Times