SPOKANE, Wash. — The Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane removed several Native American tribal flags this week, following a federal policy that restricts which flags can be displayed at VA facilities nationwide.
The flag removal occurred Tuesday as part of a Department of Veterans Affairs policy change that limits public flag displays to U.S. flags, state flags, military service flags and a select few others. Multiple VA medical centers across the country have taken similar action to remove tribal flags.
A member of the Colville Tribe said there was a flag-removal ceremony at the VA facility Tuesday, but the tribe did not send a representative because it was organized at the last minute. Representatives from other tribes, including the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said they were not aware the flags were being removed…