Forest Service orders removal of poles flying American flag

The Washington Times ^ | July 22, 2002 | Audrey Hudson

[robowombat]

Forest Service orders removal of poles flying American flag Audrey Hudson THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Published 7/22/2002

The Forest Service has told California vacationers to remove poles flying the U.S. flag from property the service has leased to them. The order has angered one lawmaker, who has written the government, demanding that it "rescind this silly order."

David Knickerbocker, an Army veteran and retired police officer, has been ordered to remove his flagpole, which has flown the American flag for more than two decades outside his summer cabin in the Eldorado National Forest. "I feel it is at times like these our country needs to be showing our unity and patriotism, not promoting ill-thought decisions, which prohibit flagpoles on United States soil," Mr. Knickerbocker said in a letter to Rep. Richard W. Pombo, California Republican.

The "no-flagpole order" came from Debbie Gaynor, recreation forester, who said in a letter to Mr. Knickerbocker that "flagpoles are not authorized for recreation residences and must be removed" for him to continue leasing the land. "My flagpole has been up for more than 23 years, and like many in our cabin tract I am a patriotic American who has a flagpole," Mr. Knickerbocker said.

The Forest Service directive "outraged" Mr. Pombo, who wants Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth to overturn the decision. "At a time when wildfires are burning up much of the West, and Americans throughout the country face terrorist threats, it would seem to me that USDA Forest Service employees would have better things to do than to tell our citizens not to use flagpoles," Mr. Pombo said in a letter to Mr. Bosworth.

"Are flagpoles more dangerous than forest fires? I urge you to rescind this silly order to remove flagpoles that fly our American flag and urge our field offices to return to more important matters," Mr. Pombo said. Adding a postscript, Mr. Pombo asked whether Mr. Knickerbocker would "be arrested for saying the Pledge of Allegiance on federal land," referring to the California court decision, later stayed, that declared that the words "under God" made public-school recitation of the Pledge unconstitutional.

A Forest Service spokesman said Mr. Bosworth was out of town Friday and was unable to comment.

The National Interagency Fire Center that day reported that more than 49,000 fires have scorched 3.5 million acres of land this summer. In California, more than 4,000 fires have burned 142,000 acres. Fire restrictions were placed on the Eldorado National Forest on July 12 through the end of the fire season, meaning that no campfires or charcoal barbecues are permitted outside designated campgrounds. The forest is located in the central Sierra Nevada, about an hour's drive from Sacramento.

The recreational use of Forest Service land began in the early 20th century, when ¼-acre to ½-acre lots were offered to the public upon which they could build small cabins. Permits are regularly issued, and cabin owners are charged an annual fee. In addition to general cleanup and clearing fire fuels from the area, Mr. Knickerbocker was ordered to take down a clothesline tied to a tree and to paint his aluminum door a dark color to better match the cabin.

Mr. Knickerbocker also was informed that his hot tub had not been approved by the agency. "Saunas, spas and hot tubs may be approved if incorporated into the main structure or deck, are not visible by neighbors or from public vantage points, and do not cause negative environmental impacts," according to the regional directives for recreation residences that Miss Gaynor cited in her letter.

Copyright © 2002 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

[robowombat]

Feminazi fedthug Debbie Gaynor finds flag poles (and American flags?) along with clotheslines far more menacing to El Dorado National Forest than any pesky fire threat. Your tax dollars in action.

[chambley1]

Next they'll require him to cut it down with a solar-powered chain saw.

[evad]

Calli-fornica strikes again...
Is there anyone in that state that isn't nuts?

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Is there anyone in that state that isn't nuts?"

Just the FReepers there, and what a brave lot, outnumbered 5,000,000 to 1.

[mc5cents]

Calli-fornica strikes again...
Is there anyone in that state that isn't nuts?

Yes, just as long as Ronald Reagan is still alive.

[maestro]

Forest Service orders removal of poles flying American flag.

Calipornia??

Ah,..................."The 'Foreign' (forest) Service".........Ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

IMHO

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They work for me ?

[mattdono]

Feminazi fedthug Debbie Gaynor...

Sounds like we might need to do a little FREEPing?! Do we have a bio/detail on this MORON?

[MissAmericanPie]

I guess if he were burning the flag that would be ok, because it could add to the forest fires already burning due to Forest Service deliberate mismanagment.

[hammerdown]

Forest officials force flagpoles off federal land AP | July 19, 2002

[jdogbearhunter]

PING

[joesnuffy]

And being a Fed enjoys spending her hard earned tax dollars pay check on what? I wonder?...
doubt its solar powered though...

[evad]

Just the FReepers there,..
..as long as Ronald Reagan is still alive.

Good points..and I'm sure Renauldus Magnus is a FReeper also.

[maximus@Nashville]

If the flagpole has been there for 23 years, why are they complaining now? Was it a recent change in the regulations? Seems the tone of Gaynors letter was that she was going to "throw the book" at this guy.

Some items do make sense, like picking up dead brush around the cabin to deny fuel to a fire. Would that the rest of the forest service would do the same thing.

[elephantlips]

Why is it that every time an incident like this occurs, the authorities are "out of town," "not available for comment," or some such crap? What is wrong with the appropriate person stepping up, right or wrong, and answering the public for once. When they wait around you cannot help but be suspicious of their calculated answers.

[jetson]

Just another reason why women should not be involved with anything to do with government or war!

[CaptRon]

No flage waving allowed post 9/11. Makes us look arrogant and war-like to the people who already hate us anyway.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I have a suggestion for Ms. Gaynor as to where to plant the newly-relocated flagpole...

[justshe]

Ah, Max. Would that the federal courts ALLOW the Forest Service to issue thinning/clean-up contracts to rid the forests of some of this fuel. Remember, almost 50% of the Forest Service budget is tied up in fighting environmental lawsuits filed in federal courts. And would the Congress rescind some of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regulations that tie up even more of the budget.

Example: where I live, there is a major campground on a lake. Around this campground are over 1,500+ 'danger trees'. A danger tree is defined as one that is dead/dying that poses a threat or risk to the public should it fall. Before the Forest Service can remove these trees, an EIS and Cultural study must be done on each and every tree. What if you disturb some fungus that is on the Protected Species List? Or is the tree located in the 'buffer zone' around an area where a protected species is found? (You can't do anything in the buffer zones either) Do you have any idea how much time and money these regulations tie up?

And you can't just ignore the regulations or else you find yourself charged with breaking the law. Because you KNOW that some enviro will report you. BUT......if a tree should come down and cause damage to personal property or injure a person, you will be charged or sued as well. Out on the 'ground' ......the staff finds themselves in a lose-lose situation. They KNOW what needs to be done...but simply don't have the resources to meet all the laws and still do a responsible job. Just my opinion.

[PLOM...NOT!]

And we got the Atheists running around screaming that "Christians" are trying to tell them how to run their lives???? (See "under God" threads) Give me a Texas sized break. Put the stinkin libs in charge and see how your life will be run.