July 30, 2020
This morning, the Thin Blue Line flags were removed from Hingham Fire trucks at the Central Fire Station on Main Street in Hingham. The Hingham Firefighters Union Local 2398 issued the following statement surrounding the removal of the flags:
This morning at 0730 hours the members of Local 2398 were joined by members of Hingham Police, Weymouth Police, Weymouth Fire, and other first responders. We gathered on the ramp of Hingham Fire Station 1 with our trucks that have been flying the “Thin Blue Line” flags for the past few weeks. We were aware of an impending order to remove the flags from the apparatus that would be given to members on duty. We did not want to risk the chance of having these flags removed from the trucks in a disrespectful manner. The decision was made to conduct the removal of the flags on our own terms to provide the highest level of respect they deserve. Local 2398 proudly donated the flags to the Weymouth Police Department in the name of Sgt. Michael Chesna. Police officers from the night shift, who worked along side Sgt. Chesna removed the flags from our trucks to accept them from Hingham Firefighters Local 2398. The flags will be brought to Weymouth Police Headquarters where they will continue to fly with honor. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outpouring of support from all over the country and beyond during the past week. The members of Local 2398 are profoundly appreciative of the amount of support we received. We would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the members of the Weymouth Police Patrolmen’s Union for assisting us with the respectful removal of the flags. We will continue our unwavering support for our brothers and sisters in law enforcement and first responders everywhere.
In solidarity,
Hingham Firefighters Local 2398
May God Bless all of you and eventually, the United States of America. Thank you police officers, firemen and first responders o Hingham for your dedicated service to the citizens of Hingham!!!
Now this flag will fly in communities that have two things that Hingham doesn’t- minorities and respect for fallen Officers.
As a proud life long resident of Hingham, I am ashamed of my hometown.
This flag has never been intended as a political statement. To say that in today’s climate it has become political is an attempt to justify pandering to the requests of a few.
I support the men and women of the Hingham Police Dept who put their lives on the line for us every day.
Thank you, Hingham firefighters, for honoring our fallen hero in neighboring Weymouth with such a beautiful tribute.
Hingham’s leaders should never have caved in to the request of the young man as the flags were not meant to be a political statement.
I salute Hingham Firefighters Local 2398 for their extraordinary response…and thank all firefighters and police in Hingham, Weymouth and elsewhere for their dedicated service.
At a moment when town leadership could have showed courage and resolve, they cowered. Shame.
Credit to the union though for resolving the situation with honor and respect.
You’re right about that, Adam.
Super-sensitive snowflakes, they’re everywhere! I salute the men in blue, our men in red and yellow, and all our military men and women who sincerely works everyday to protect our nation, its flag, and its sovereignty. If you’re one of those snowflakes, or American hating foreigners living in the freedom of the U.S.’s borders I suggest you grow a pair if you haven’t had them cut off already! In America we respect those who protect us every minute of every day and we honor with our memories those whom we have lost in the process and we won’t stop just because YOU seem to be offended by anything and everything. God Bless America an all those who serve to keep it safe.