Posted on 09/29/2004 11:20:43 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
SPOKANE, Wash. -- A small Canadian town best known for its welcoming ski slopes and artsy tourist trade has drawn sharp criticism for a proposed memorial to the Vietnam draft dodgers who fled to the area three decades ago.
After threats of boycotts by people in the Spokane area to the south, and a call by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for President Bush and Congress to pressure Canada to stop the project, civic leaders in the British Columbia town of Nelson have distanced themselves from the idea. Even the man who organized the project said he was reconsidering.
"To honor draft-dodgers, deserters, people who brought grief to the families they left behind and anguish to those American men who took their place, is an abomination," said John Furgess, the national commander of the 2.4-million-member VFW.
The Nelson City Council passed a resolution Monday to buy newspaper advertising saying it was not involved with the proposed memorial, which is a private venture.
An estimated 125,000 Americans fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam draft. Many settled in British Columbia. About half returned to the United States when President Carter granted them amnesty in 1977.
Mayor Dave Elliott said he has been deluged with e-mails and calls since he attended a Sept. 7 press conference announcing the memorial in his lakeside community about 45 miles north of the Canadian border.
"Most of them were nasty," he said.
Elliott, now the target of a petition calling for his resignation, said Nelson has a diverse and liberal population that welcomed the draft dodgers. He now believes the monument is a questionable idea but said he would not try to block it.
"The Vietnam War is something everybody would like to put behind them," Elliott said. "Let's do a monument to peace or something that will bring people together."
Isaac Romano, who helped organize the project called "Our Way Home," has said the purpose was to honor "the courageous legacy of Vietnam War resisters and the Canadians who helped them resettle in this country." A bronze sculpture, showing a draft dodger being welcomed by two Canadians, was to be unveiled at a celebration in 2006.
But on Monday, Romano issued a statement saying organizers "will be looking broadly for the appropriate setting for the peace monument. It may or may not be located in Nelson." Romano did not return telephone messages.
Council member Ian Mason said the city's involvement "would spell certain economic disaster for members of our local business community that trade with or rely on American tourist dollars."
On Monday, Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said he understood the feelings of veterans who were offended by the proposal. He said he will wait for direction from the administration.
"I can sympathize very much with the veterans," he said. "They have pretty strong feelings, particularly about people they served with who were killed in action defending our values and our freedoms." Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press | Article licensing and reprint options
Will they be using XXXlintigula's face for the castings?
So9
Former Republican governor of MA, rumored to be readying for a run for Kerry's senate seat after orange boy takes the oath. Seems to have the weasel qualification down pat.
I would imagine that most of the egg producers in Canada already have large monuments to draft dodgers. They do in this country.
That sounds as bad as the original idea.
So9
He might wanna put those plans on hold.
Yeah, I suspect that is the understatement of the year.
We have one already, it's called the Iwo Jima memorial.
I would love to hear Kerry's response if he was asked what he thought of the idea of the monument.
Maybe the memorial should go to Carter
How can anyone ever forgive Carter for granting amnesty to all those who fled to Canada to avoid Vietnam? There is no more unforgiving action than fleeing your country during wartime to avoid service.
That is even worse than K coming out aganist the war when he returned. (His (K's) action is not far behind though.)
Those who fled should NEVER EVER have been allowed back in the USA.
**ping**
Thank goodness for those who opposed this.
"the courageous legacy of Vietnam War resisters and the Canadians who helped them resettle in this country." What is this some sort of parody. Draft dodgers and deserters hardly had much of a struggle entering Canada. These people make it seem as though individuals were escaping from East Germany or some other worker's paradise. The one fellow I know who's son fled upon being classified 1-A reported that he did suffer dreadful hardships on a bus trip from the Port Authority Terminal in NYC to Toronto.
Mel moved to Australia because his parents moved to Australia - Mel only dodged the draft if we were drafting 12 year olds.
I figured he was deferred since he has so many kids.
Why is it important that we disapprove of Mel Gibson?
I know, what I really resent is his parents ever being allowed back in this country after they deserted it.
So9
I e-mailed worldnetdaily and told them, let canada build a monument to the cowards with their names carved on it for all the world to witness their cowardice. would you want your grandchildren to see your named carved there? The real Vietnam memorial is in Washington D.C.
I applaud your frankness. They should not have been allowed to return to this country.
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