Found a pic of Poughkeepsie fire chief Tory Gallante online. It all fits:
NO - don’t do it.
The firemen were actually flying real flags on the trucks. Fire commissioners in Upstate New York ordered several fire department to remove the U.S. flags that were mounted on its firetrucks because they said the display was a “liability” to the firefighters and other motorists. They provided a distraction to motorists when they watched them and became inattentive to their driving. No un-love for Old Glory, just in the best interest of safety.
red
Some of the proudest moments I’ve had have been observing fire trucks racing into harm’s way flying our flag. Marines feel a special bond with each other; we also feel that bond with firemen. The bond is for fellow Americans who rush to the trouble with the idea that there are people at risk who need our help. Only- or mostly- Americans do this. We’re a band of brothers in this regard. For the pissant bureaucrats who don’t understand this, I say “piss off and die in a fire.”
TC
This kind of thing really pisses me off. I really hate liberals and all the PC cr@p.
We lived close, my son was born in the Poughkeepsie hospital.
It’s time to find out who gave this order and show up at city hall armed for bear.
We flew flags off of the back of the truck for some time after 911. It was rather mixed to me because the flags get almost instantly filthy from the goo that gets sucked around the back of the truck.
On one hand,you have patriotism and on the other is it violates respect for the flag.
I had a lot of folks stop us in a store or wherever and mention the disrespect of the flag.
I like a big flag decal. IMHO
So a big red fire truck with lights and Sirens isn’t a distraction, but you put a flag on the back of it it suddenly becomes a distraction?
Found a pic of Poughkeepsie fire chief Tory Gallante online. It all fits:
I have a brother in law and two nephews in Colorado that are Firefighters, and I don’t think they would stand for this crap.
I wonder if there is a Gadsden Flag with a burning snake that Firefighters could use in a case like this? I would make one if I could.
When you’ve got a fire truck barrelassing down the road towards you at breakneck speed with lights flashing, horns blowing and sirens going off, you’d either have to be a Muslim or some other America-hating “immigrant” to be “distracted” by an American flag.
During Desert Storm, the City Manager of Union City California issued a similar order and prohibited firefighters from wearing flag pins on duty. In response, one Fire captain had his hair shaved and dyed in a Stars and Stripes image. I wonder what these guys will do to send a message.
Someone from Ithaca probably moved into town and the cancer started.
Ithicans are a virus.
I may not have read the article as well as I should have, but does it say why they’re being forced to remove the flags?
If it’s local politicians, caving to some outside pressure, why aren’t the mayor and council people being recalled right effin’ now?
Hey, “New York Values” and all that....
"...Arlington Fire Commissioners Board Chairman Jim Beretta tells the newspaper the majority of the board saw the flags as a “liability during normal operations for our people and other motorists.”..."
Seems to me it is a common sense move to promote safety and effective operation during a fire emergency.
Folks, we've got bigger fish fry.
You gotta draw the line somewhere.
A small “Embassy” flag might be appropriate. Painted flags are even better.
If a three-foot flag is good, wouldn’t a five-foot flag be better? Why not mount a small pole in the back and fly a twenty-food flag. As long as it fits below the underpasses, what is the objection?
You gotta draw the line somewhere. This is all quibbling about where this particular line was drawn.
As a former resident of the Arlington Fire District and current owner of several properties in the District, allow me to offer some local insight: Two of the three board members who voted to remove the flag are not anti-American libtards. They were elected to the board of fire commissioners (as was one of the broad members who voted to keep the flags) as the Tea Party candidates campaigning on a pledge of fiscal responsibility and open government. Indeed, up until the election of the third Tea Party candidate this past December, the Board of Fire Commissioners had been controlled by spend-thrift union thugs who often operated under the radar and out of public view, and rubber-stamped massive increases in the number of full-time firemen, wages, benefits, travel to exotic places (under the excuse of “training”), and no-bid contracts, to the point where the fire tax assessed against the owners of real property has sky rocketed over the last 20 years. (Twenty years ago, the fire department was nearly all volunteer, and now, thanks to the union thugs, it is nearly all professional.) Indeed, the fire tax is now higher than the the town and county tax combined with a 400% increase over the last ten years.
The flags at issue are 7’ x 4’. They fly from the back of the trucks where the firemen need unimpeded access to firefighting and other emergency equipment. In high winds, the flapping flags could easily interfere with access to the equipment in situations where seconds lost can mean the difference between life and death. There is also the risk of a flag breaking loose during high speed transit, and landing on the windshield of another vehicle, creating a dangerous situation.
Hanging the flags from the fire truck 24/7 in all weather conditions and without illumination at night also violates federal law on the display and care of the American flag.
Lastly, all of the fire trucks and emergency vehicles already have large decals that predominately display the flag for all to see. The flag is also displayed on all uniforms in patch form, and on many helmets and personal equipment in decal form. Huge flags fly from a large pole in front of each of the fire houses in the district.
In my opinion, this is a controversy created by union thugs so that their candidates can campaign on the flag controversy in an effort to take back control of the board of fire commissioners at the next election, and return to the days of fiscal irresponsibility, uncontrolled spending, backroom deals, exotic travel, no bid contracts, and patronage appointments.