A Christmas light display put up in downtown Rutherford was ordered taken down by the mayor for a violation of federal law governing how the American flag should be displayed, leaving the business that created the display confused and frustrated. .

Chris Schule, who owns Schule Landscaping with his brother Mike, told New Jersey 101.5 the company was hired to put the display up on a circle on Park Avenue in downtown Rutherford. The plan was approved by the Rutherford Borough Council and put up at the company's expense just before Thanksgiving as agreed.

But a controversy developed over how the flag was shown within the display, and it was ordered by Mayor Joseph DeSalvo to be taken down.

"They said this was a federal thing. There wasn't supposed to be any merchandise touching the flag but nothing is touching the flag," Schule said. "They thought it was encroaching on the space for the flag to be lowered and raised, which isn't true. We actually had it set up so if they needed to lower it that it can be lowered."

He said the company was aware of one such occasion — to commemorate Pearl Harbor.

"They thought it was a respect thing towards the American flag, which I understand, but after talking to some veterans and just people in general they don't see where it would be offensive," said Schule, adding that he received many positive comments about the display before public works crews took down.

Schule, who grew up in Rutherford and went through the public schools, said he is not involved in town politics and has never met DeSalvo.

The issue is to be discussed is at the borough council meeting on Dec, 14. Even if Schule gets the green light to put the display back it won't be easy.

Schule said he had to pay out of pocket for a bucket truck to get the lights up, because a borough truck wasn't available.

"I'm not here to make a lot of money on the circle. We're just kind of breaking even to make the town look nice because that's where I'm from and I take pride in that," he said.

A message seeking comment from DeSalvo was not returned.

 

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