Yarmouth Town Council, October 15, 2026
Some people talk about patriotism. Bruce Hathaway has lived it. On October 15, the Yarmouth veteran walked up to the podium at Town Council to back a local Eagle Scout’s plan to fly American flags on Main Street, and he asked the question a lot of us have been asking.
The setup
Item 33 on the council’s agenda was a proposal “from Eagle Scout candidate, Ian Ferguson, for a Main Street banner/flag proposal” (agenda). A teenager wanted to raise money for brackets, poles and flags and hang them downtown. It should have been an easy yes. Instead the item took more than two hours. (Meeting video, item opens at 0:22:07)
Hathaway steps up
Hathaway introduced himself as someone who has “lived in Yarmouth here now for 82 years” (video, 0:41:12). He asked who had authorized the Pride displays on town property. A council member answered that the council itself had approved the Pride resolution for June every year and, for the past two years, the Pride painting on a driveway entrance (0:41:30–0:42:00).
Then Hathaway made his point:
“So we’re here tonight talking about the American flag, okay? … I’m a veteran, okay? It’s really important to me.” (0:42:03)
He talked about his best friend from Yarmouth High School, Robert Boyd, and about driving through Somerset and Franklin counties, where American flags fly everywhere with pictures of local people who served. (0:42:31–0:43:02)
“So why are we having such a big dilemma about having American flags in Yarmouth? I don’t understand it.” (0:43:04)
The response from the dais: “that’s kind of a rhetorical question… We’re not going to answer rhetoricals.” (0:43:17)
Hathaway didn’t back down:
“And we’re talking about picking different days for the American flag. Give me a break. … Why can’t we be proud Americans? I am definitely a veteran and I’m proud. And I’m proud of these young gentlemen here for standing up for it. They want to put American flags up. What’s wrong with that? It’s not destroying anything.” (0:43:54–0:44:18)
Why it matters
Pride displays got approved without a fuss. An Eagle Scout’s American flags turned into a marathon debate. Hathaway called out that double standard plainly and politely, and he spoke for a lot of Yarmouth residents who were watching.
The result
After more than two hours of debate, the council voted to approve the project, with details to be worked out and a report back later. Every councilor called on the roll voted yes, and so did the chair: 7–0. (video, 2:16:00–2:16:27)
Bruce Hathaway, thank you for your service, then and now. You’re a Hero of Freedom.