TRAVERSE CITY -- A Traverse City store owner is speaking out on what he calls a lack of patriotism in the downtown area. David Qualey is now pushing his fellow merchants to follow his lead and start proudly hanging the country's flag.
"There's no flags or nothing, just upsetting to me, I feel ashamed to be a store owner in downtown Traverse City. It's time to stand up and speak for America and do something so that's where I'm at," said Qualey.
The frustrations started back on Memorial Day when Qualey noticed a lack of flags. The issue was fueled as Independence Day came and went.
"I come in July Fourth morning as early as usual, put up my flag and look downtown expecting got see American flags, I saw nothing not even a banner, nothing red white or blue whatsoever -- on both sides of the street -- I even go in the middle of the street and looked down...nothing," explained Qualey.
To rally support, Qualey started a petition, with 200 signatures gathered in one day.
7&4 News checked with other city officials to see just how red, white and blue other downtown areas are. Gaylord has flags lining the streets. Petoskey also has about a dozen business owners hanging the American flag.
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