The 62-year-old Larson said he doesn't expect to see marching bands or parades or see city hall painted red, white and blue, but he would like the city to have a more prevalent display of flags on certain holidays so those days don't pass unnoticed. Larson, who was in the Army Reserve for six years, has gone to the city council on three different occasions in the last two years to make this request.

The first request came in September 2001, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He told the council that he was embarrassed to be driving downtown and see that it was "business as usual," especially when Central Park in Santa Clara was ringed with American flags.

"I could not see an American flag at city hall at that point in time. They had a flag in the lobby," Larson said.

After Larson returned from a trip to Europe, where he was deeply moved by a visit he made to the beaches of Normandy--where approximately 27,000 soldiers died fighting in World War II--he received a letter from the city manager's office informing him that the city had added several flags. The letter also informed Larson that the flagpoles had been moved to a more visible location on the Orchard City Green between the library and city hall.

"Included are flags added to the City Hall lobby, the exterior of the Heritage Theatre (visible from Campbell Avenue), City right-of-way areas at each end of our Downtown, and our City vehicles," the letter said. "Banners with an American theme have also been added to eighteen City owned light poles in the Downtown area."

During the one-year anniversary of 9/11, the city had a formal ceremony, dedicating a flag on Orchard City Green in remembrance of the tragic event.

Larson said the flags at the right-of-way area were added after he had called the city with the suggestion.

"I appreciated that they did something with the flagpole," Larson said. "But there's one single American flag down there."

Larson went to the council again in July 2002 and in June 2003 making the same request--that the city give special recognition to holidays that honor our country and the veterans that fought for it.

Campbell City Manager Bernie Strojny said the city has had ongoing communication with Larson.

He's made several requests for more flags, Stronjy said, but the city is not interested at this time in lining the streets with flags during particular holidays.

Strojny added that the flag at Orchard City Green used to be hidden by trees and was not as visible, a problem the city has remedied. Now the flag at the center of Civic Center Drive is prominent and displayed year-round.

Larson was also told, during a discussion with Strojny, that a large display of flags would have an expense attached.

Santa Clara, which Larson uses as an example of prominent flag displays, has 50 flags at its park for all national holidays. But the flags came free of cost, according to Larry Wolfe, director of parks and recreation for Santa Clara. The Veterans of Foreign Wars purchased the flags and posts, and the Santa Clara parks and recreation department helped to display them for more than a decade. Santa Clara volunteers also came up with the idea to build a veteran's memorial where citizens could purchase a brick in someone's name. Numerous flags are flown at that site, from the city's flag to the MIA and POW flag, and are visible year-round.

Larson has thought about raising a similar grass-roots effort and presented his suggestion to the American Legion on Dell Avenue. But Larson said that while the Legion was receptive to his suggestion, none of its members have stepped forward to promote a flag project that would remind citizens of the flag's importance.

Edward Przemielewski, an adjutant for the Legion, said he wasn't sure if the Legion had made any commitments to help purchase any additional flags that could be displayed throughout the city. But the organization has recently sent a memo to Vice Mayor Donald Burr about a veteran's memorial.

"We'd like to have one put around the civic center," Przemielewski said.

Though Burr has not been told of the details, he thought the veteran's memorial was a "great idea."

Burr has an American flag in his window and said any way to honor the veterans is appreciated.

Councilman Matthew Dean agreed. Dean said putting the banners downtown was appropriate. But he added that there was no way to display enough flags to honor the veterans who had died for this country. Instead, it was better to exercise the freedoms they fought for.

"We can only do so much as a city," Burr said. "It takes time and money to put the flags up during the holidays."