Marc Sarkady placed a handful of American flags on the sunny beach on Plum Island, Massachusetts, last week as he decorated for the nation’s 250th Independence Day when a letter arrived in his mailbox saying the flags violated state environmental laws.
The town claimed the flags could interfere with and harm the beach and dune habitat of Piping Plover and Least Tern, birds protected by state and federal species acts. The notice, which was also sent to two of his neighbors, urged Sarkady to comply with the laws or face penalties.
The flags were still standing June 30 as the dispute continued in the New England seaside village….