An alert Manteca resident noticed something amiss on Patriots’ Day — some Manteca Unified School District campuses were not flying the American flag at half-mast on Tuesday.

The day is set aside to remember the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

He brought it to the attention of the office staff of Stella Brockman School that in turn contacted the district office.

Manteca Unified Outreach Coordinator Victoria Brunn noted the oversight — attributed to a communication snafu — was quickly addressed at those campuses that had not lowered the flag.

Manteca Unified Superintendent Clark Burke — who happens to be an active Army Reserve officer — noted schools follow protocols to lower flags that are issued either by the President of the United States or the Governor of California.

By late morning flags were at half-mast at all campuses as they were at city, state, and federal locations throughout Manteca as well as at a number of businesses.

Brunn said the district’s first daily social media posting on Tuesday noted it was Patriots Day and what it represents.

A number of schools also conducted Patriots’ Day ceremonies or events. Joshua Cowell did so a few days early when they packed items they collected to fill 117 care packages to be sent to American troops serving in harm’s way.

Several people commented about how the Flags over Manteca effort on Tuesday was spotty in places.

About a third of the 2,400 flags did not go up.

Chamber Executive Director Joann Beattie noted there were several factors that forced that to happen. The chamber has been short groups for several holidays. Youth groups — such as the East Union High JROTC — are unable to place and retrieve the flags — when they have school. And since it was a work day and not a holiday several other groups that usually place flags were unable to participate.

Beattie noted chamber volunteer Ann King works tirelessly with groups that have stepped up for the effort to try and make sure they can make it.

But when they can’t, Beattie pointed out “the flags don’t get placed on their own.”

It is why the chamber is looking for groups that can commit five to six people on select holidays to place the flags along Manteca streets in the early morning and collect them at mid-afternoon.

Beattie said “groups” can be from service clubs, organizations, businesses, churches, or family and friends banding together.

The next scheduled days for placement of flags are on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and Pearl Harbor Day on Dec. 7.

The chamber started Flags over Manteca on the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

If you have a group that can help, contact the chamber at 823-6121.

5.11 Tactical store is

open Monday thru Friday

The 5.11 Tactical retail store in Manteca on the northeastern corner of the firm’s 404,657 square foot distribution center at 3201 North Airport Way is not open on Saturdays.

A flyer promoting their grand opening “door breaching” at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, listed hours for Saturday. The store is only open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt#mantecabulletin.com