West Salutes the Flag – Underwater

Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., is taking his patriotism to new levels – underwater.

He saluted the American flag while leading a group of veterans on a scuba diving trip off the coast of his Florida district Sunday, Politico reports. West planted the flag underwater in an artificial reef.



A blogger for the Broward-Palm Beach New Times didn’t join in the patriotic spirit, accusing the former army officer of disobeying United States Code by putting the flag in water and flying it below ground level.

“Rep. Allen West going diving off the coast of Deerfield Beach with a bunch of military veterans — except for the fact that he violated U.S. federal law in the process and provided a pictorial of himself doing so,” the blogger wrote.

But West’s office had a ready defense.

“Congressman West participated in an event to bring attention to scuba diving off the coast of his Congressional District,” his communications director, Angela Sachitano, told Politico in an email.

“He went diving with several disabled veterans who fought to defend the American flag and this nation. Congressman West displayed the American flag on an underwater wreck as a sign of respect for the flag and the accomplishment for these veterans who each and every day work to overcome their disability. In addition, Congressman West would like to wish everyone a Happy Flag Day.”