Requirement about American flags is among new state laws

Lee Herold of Rochester has thousands of flags crammed into his store on Second Street Southwest, with nations from Cuba to Sri Lanka represented.

Herold Flags also has a fair share of its best-selling flag, the U.S. flag, which a state law that started Jan. 1 requires must be made in the U.S.A. to be sold in Minnesota.

The law won't hurt Herold Flags because the American flags in stock are already manufactured in the U.S., Herold said.

At the same time, a provision governing novelties and other items featuring American flags was removed from the flag bill before it was passed. As a result, U.S. flag stickers in Herold's store that were made in Taiwan are not covered by the law.

It isn't clear how the flag law will be enforced.

Cont....

By Matt Russell
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN