Rubashkin yard signs with flag motif stirring emotions in Postville

Former Agriprocessors manager Sholom Rubashkin is getting a lot of support from the Jewish community in Postville.

Several homes have posters of Rubashkin on an American flag reading "Send Shalom Home" in their front yards. That's upsetting some veterans who say this is illegal.

Now, a sign intended to pay tribute to a man at the center of controversy in Postville has instead created more controversy.

A jury convicted Rubashkin last week of 86 federal fraud charges.

"I think they wanted to send a message that Shalom is not forgotten, but they took an avenue they didn't understand could be been seen as harmful," former city council member Aaron Goldsmith said.

Local veterans are angry about the design of the posters.

"I was outraged," veteran Gary Hooper said.

"You got him pasted right into the flag ... that's not right," veteran Terry McNally added.

The men point to a section of the Iowa Code that makes it illegal to desecrate a flag.

"The flag is very sacred to me and our country," veteran Harlan White said.

"I sacrificed my blood for the flag, so did my father and grandfather," Hooper added. "It means our freedom."

City and state officials say it's unclear whether the poster actually violates the Iowa law.

Members of the Jewish community say this situation is simply a big misunderstanding.

"I think they misunderstood the symbols of the flag and mixing his picture with that and how that could offend people and be misunderstood and misconstrued," Goldsmith said.

The Postville VFW is preparing a response and also asking for an apology from those who displayed the signs in their yards.

-- Mark Geary, KCRG-TV9

[HTML1]