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发帖数: 157 | 1 POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — American flags were removed from three fire trucks in
New York on Tuesday sparking heated discussion on social media and
disappointment from union members.
Arlington Fire Chief Tory Gallante was directed by the Board of Fire
Commissioners to remove the flags from the backs of the trucks during Monday
's meeting. He declined to comment on specifics of why the decision was made
but said he is “very disappointed with their direction.”
Arlington Fire Commissioner Chairman Jim Beretta said the board majority
feel the flags are a "liability during normal operations for our people and
other motorists," and that the board had not been consulted before the flags
were mounted.
The flags, which were only recently mounted on the trucks at the request of
the union, were removed during a ceremony at Arlington headquarters in the
Town of Poughkeepsie on Tuesday.
Union President Joseph Tarquinio said he's disappointed in the board's
direction, but "if we had to take them down, they had to be taken down the
right way. At the time when the country needs unity, to do something like
this ... it's next to flag-burning in my mind."
There was an open discussion about the issue at Monday's meeting "and each
board member gave their opinion," Beretta said.
Two board members "had no problem with it as long as it was safe and not in
the way of operations," Beretta added. Three board members "did have a
problem with it for normal operations, citing liability and distraction to
other motorists."
Tarquinio is pleased with the outpouring of support — Gallante said dozens
of messages have poured in from around the nation, decrying the board's
direction.
"I think (for) a lot of people ... (the issue) crosses political lines,
moral lines, religious lines," Tarquinio said. "It's the flag of this
country."
Online, reaction varied. Hundreds of people expressed outrage at the
decision. Others said the display, while patriotic, violated U.S. flag code.
Some said there are bigger issues to worry about and that displaying — or
not displaying — an American flag does not make one person more patriotic
than another.
The board did not take an official vote on the matter Monday, but "a
direction (based on majority) was given to remove the newly affixed physical
flags," Beretta said. "The board has the authority to provide direction to
the chief based on a board majority."
Gallante said the firefighters union recently asked him if they could
display American flags on the rear of fire trucks.
He granted the union permission to do so, as long as the flags were
maintained properly and safely secured, and "at their (the union's) cost ...
the flags were placed on the vehicles," Gallante said. The flags were "
checked by our mechanics to make sure" they were safely secured.
After the flags were removed, Gallante said he hopes the outpouring of
support will prompt the board to reconsider. | T********N
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