Huge flag waves over Manville home

Buster Fregeolle of Raritan Avenue hopes the flag hanging from his house shows how strongly he feels about last Tuesday’s terrorist attack on America.

By:Krzysztof Scibiorski
   Following the terrorist attacks, American flags can be seen flying at almost all local businesses and residences. However, most agree that Mr. Fregeolle’s flag is the largest displayed by a private citizen.
   The 19- by 12-foot flag covers almost the entire side of Mr. Fregeolle’s Cape Cod house. The flag billows majestically in the wind. Mr. Fregeolle said he hung the flag with his son Sept. 12 after hearing about the congressional resolution encouraging all citizens to display the American flag as a sign of solidarity.
   As Mr. Fregeolle explains, the giant flag is a disused one from his son’s workplace. As flags become tattered, his son brings him the old ones to be burned at VFW Post 2290, of which Mr. Fregeolle is a member.
   Mr. Fregeolle, a former paratrooper who received his basic training with the 82nd Airborne and served with the 11th Airborne in the 1950s, spoke of the helplessness he felt watching the events of Sept.11, unfolding on television.
   "I had goose bumps all over. I wanted to do something to help but couldn’t," he said.
   He said he feels that displaying the flag is one thing that everyone can do to help the country overcome the tragedy. His wife, Elizabeth, agrees, saying that her "heart was heavy and you feel the pain experienced by these people. You want to help."
   Mr. Fregeolle said the United States should respond forcefully to the attacks which "declared war on us."
   "As soon as we find out who did this we should go in there and wipe them out, and keep going until there are none left," he said.
   Mr. Fregeolle recognized that there will be repercussions for all, adding, "If there’s going to be a draft and the country would need people to serve, I would be the first one in line."