A town is in an uproar over a beautiful patriotic display to honor veterans that a 72-year old woman has been keeping for 11 years. Can you imagine? A petition (SEE BELOW) is filling up in support of Jane Duncan’s display.
This is a great example of big government overreach. It was meant to stop citizens from putting up garage sale signs in the right-of-way. One overzealous person gave Jane Duncan a ticket for violating a city code related to her wonderful display. The town should give her something else…they should give her an award for being Citizen of the Year! What a great patriot!
“I mow this, I maintain it and I’m 72 years old,” Jane Duncan told KETV. “I’ve maintained it for 11 years.”
Some residents in Denison, Iowa, said she should be able to maintain her tribute to fallen soldiers, but the city said it has a right to take it down.
“We passed a code earlier this year dealing with signs in the right of way,” Denison Mayor Jared Beymer told KETV. “It was intended for garage sale signs.”
The ticket has the community divided. Some residents said it should remain, but others complained about the upkeep.
“I don’t have kids. I don’t have family or animals. I have a veterans garden that I put my heart and soul into,” Duncan said.
“It crushed me,” Duncan said.
The controversial citation has the community in an uproar. Within 24 hours, 1,000 people signed a petition demanding the tribute stay put. The city council received the petition.
“We didn’t expect to ruffle feathers. Our code enforcement officer was just following the rules and doing his job,” Beymer said.
The mayor said some residents complained about the upkeep.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if that’s their feeling, why are they not down there contributing to make it look better?” Denison resident-Jennifer Zupo-Smith said.
As of right now, the display will remain up until the Denison city council discusses it at a meeting.
THE PETITION REACHED ITS GOAL OF 1,000 SIGNATURES WITHIN 24 HOURS:
KMEV TRANSCRIPT:
REPORTER: EVERYONE IN DENISON KNOWS JANE DUNCAN.
SHE’S THE WOMAN WHO PLANTED THE VETERAN’S GARDEN ON BUSY 7TH STREET.
JANE: I MOW THIS, I MAINTAIN IT, AND I’M 72 YEARS OLD. I’VE MAINTAINED IT FOR 11 YEARS.
REPORTER: BUT THE PATRIOTIC TRIBUTE IS IN JEOPARDY OF BEING REMOVED. THE CITY GAVE DUNCAN A TICKET FOR VIOLATING A DENISON CODE.
MAYOR JARED BEYMER EXPLAINED THE ORDINANCE TO OUR WAVERLE MONROE. WE PASSED A CODE EARLIER THIS YEAR DEALING WITH SIGNS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. IT WAS INTENDED FOR GARAGE SALE SIGNS.
REPORTER: BUT THE CONTROVERSIAL CITATION IS DIVIDING THE COMMUNITY OVER WHETHER THE DIPLAY SHOULD BE TAKEN DOWN.
FREEDOM AVENUE IS WHAT MY HUSBAND AND I LIKE TO CALL IT.
REPORTER: THE MAYOR SAYS PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE UPKEEP.
MAYOR: WE DIDN’T EXPECT TO RUFFLE FEATHERS OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WAS JUST FOLLOWING THE RULES AND DOING HIS JOB.
REPORTER: DUNCAN WON’T GIVE UP ON HER GARDEN, HER SPECIAL WAY TO THANK AMERICAN HEROES FOR THEIR SACRIFICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
DUNCAN: I DON’T HAVE KIDS, I DON’T HAVE FAMILY OR ANIMALS I HAVE A VETERANS GARDEN THAT I PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO
REPORTER: THE TICKET CAUSED SUCH AN UPROAR, RESIDENTS GATHERED A THOUSAND SIGNATURES FOR A PETITION WITHIN 24 HOURS TO KEEP THE TRIBUTE. FOR NOW, THE PATRIOTIC DISPL STAYS PUT WHILE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL POSSIBLY CHANGE THE LAW.
