Denali National Park contractor says American flag was removed from vehicle after road-noise complaint

An American emblem flies astatine Denali National Park (NPS Photo/Ken Conger)

The building institution astatine nan bosom of a conflict complete nan removal of an American flag from 1 of its vehicles successful Denali National Park says workers removed nan emblem successful consequence to a visitant title complete roadworthy noise.

A connection released Wednesday by nan Federal Highway Administration, which is overseeing building of a Denali Park Road span spanning a landslide astatine Polychrome Pass, says nan National Park Service relayed a visitant title astir nan sound a span worker’s vehicle-mounted emblem was making while travelling nan Park Road. It says nan agency’s goal is to minimize impacts and sound for visitors and wildlife arsenic overmuch arsenic possible, and that span contractor Granite Construction was notified.

A connection from a Granite spokesperson confirms nan FHWA asked nan institution to region nan vehicle’s emblem connected May 16. It notes that 1 of nan span project’s goals is to “preserve nan park’s earthy elements and support parkland visitors’ acquisition by keeping a debased floor plan arsenic we spell astir our work.”

The removal of nan flag, which U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said successful a missive to Park Service Director Charles F. Sams III had been caused by “someone astatine nan National Park Service,” ignited a firestorm connected societal media complete nan Memorial Day weekend, pinch a denial of that claim posted by parkland unit connected Facebook drafting much than 700 comments. It besides inspired group to thrust a convoy of vehicles displaying American flags from Fairbanks and different locations into nan parkland successful protestation Sunday.

Sullivan’s missive besides asked Sams for an mentation of what happened, and urged him to return steps to guarantee a akin incident won’t hap again successful a nationalist park.