Fort Monroe: An American icon without an American flag

HAMPTON — As the Army continues its prolonged transfer of Fort Monroe to the state and federal governments, some visitors and military veterans are questioning why the symbol of America's independence isn't flying over Freedom's Fort.

"The obvious question is, where is the flag?" asks Paul Rizzo, a resident of the nearby Chamberlin.

A flag pole across the moat from the Old Point Comfort lighthouse has remained barren since September when the military lowered the post's garrison flag.

Rizzo says the flag is a symbol of the fort's history and without it, the site feels bare.

"It's where freedom from slavery began," he said. "It's where we should be proudly proclaiming our pride in that history in the most visual way, with a garrison-style flag."...