Canadian Maj. Doug Bugeaud in front of his Sierra Vista home Thursday. Bugeaud has received anonymous comments about flying the Canadian flag and has had his vehicle egged. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)
Posted on 01/22/2006 10:11:12 AM PST by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — Doug Bugeaud says the United States is his second favorite country.
Naturally, his first favorite is his home country — Canada.
But it appears some people take offense to the Canadian Forces major flying his nation’s red and white Maple Leaf flag in front of his Sierra Vista home.
His vehicle has been the target of a number of eggings, and he has received a couple of letters about flying the Canadian flag, as well as being the subject of an On Your Mind comment in the Herald/Review.
During the Christmas holidays, his in-laws from Canada visited, but they cut their two weeks in Sierra Vista short by a week.
“They want my children to go back to Canada because they are afraid for them,” Bugeaud said, adding his wife also is a little scared.
He is just one of many foreign officers who are at the post as liaisons, exchange or students.
Besides Canada, other countries with an assignment presence include Australia, France, Germany, Great Britain and South Korea. Some of them fly their nation’s colors at their homes in Sierra Vista.
Foreign students come from a variety of nations, and in February a small group of Iraqi officers is expected to attend the Intelligence Center.
Bugeaud doesn’t know if the eggings and other acts of minor vandalism are aimed at him as an individual or at Canada.
In late September, he received a type-written letter addressed to “occupants” at his St. Andrews Drive home.
The 18-word message stated: “Your continual flying of the Canadian flag is insulting. Why not go back to Canada where you belong.”
The first round of eggings began then and stopped in October, he said. The egg-throwing incidents started up again in mid-December and continued until early January.
After the second round of eggings and splashing of his car with coffee cream, he received another anonymous letter, this time addressed to “residents” at his home.
Inside the envelope was a copy of the On Your Mind published in the Herald/Review’s Dec. 16 issue.
The article complained about the person on St. Andrews Drive — Bugeaud — flying the Canadian flag at the house, as well as on his car and for having a license plate with a maple leaf on it.
In part, the comment stated: “This is the U.S.A. and they need to fly the American flag on top of the Canadian flag. And if they can’t do this then maybe the need to go back to Canada.”
Bugeaud said it would be wrong to fly the American flag over the Canadian banner or vice versus, for that traditionally indicates the flag of a country flying beneath another country’s flag was defeated in war by the one on top of it.
Although Americans and Canadians have engaged in combat — during the Revolutionary War and during the War of 1812, both times when the Americans attempted to make Canada part of the United States — it has been nearly 200 years since the last fighting occurred.
“And neither country defeated the other,” the major said, adding both nations should be proud they share the world’s longest undefended border.
There has been some war of words between the two countries, especially when it comes to the Iraq, the major said.
Canada did not join in providing combat forces against Iraq in 2003, as it did in the first Gulf War.
But Canadians are serving in exchange positions with U.S. military units, Bugeaud said.
When that organization deploys to Iraq, the Canadians go along.
Americans also serve as exchange and liaison officers with Canadian Forces.
Throughout most of the peacekeeping efforts, Canada and the United States have been by each others side, he said.
When the terrorists struck the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, a Canadian lieutenant general at the North American Air Defense command in Colorado was on duty and worked with the Pentagon and the White House in making decisions, which included grounding all flights in the United States and those heading for the country, Bugeaud said. Many grounded flights landed in Canada.
When it comes to Afghanistan, Canadian special forces were there when that conflict began, the major said. And 2,000 Canadians will soon be replacing Americans in Kandahar as part of the North American Treaty Organization force.
So, he said, if someone has a problem because Canada was not part of the attacking force in 2003 that went into Iraq, Canada’s other support for the United States should be considered, especially in the war against terrorism.
Canadians and Americans have shared duty around the world, Bugeaud said.
Many of his assignments have been with Americans, including another stint as a liaison officer.
When Americans are serving in joint assignments with Canadians, many of them fly the U.S. flag at their homes in Canada “and we don’t make anything of it.”
The egging incidents have been reported to the Sierra Vista Police Department, but no one has been apprehended, Bugeaud said.
The eggings are bad enough. One left a “small egg-shaped dent” on the car and four others caused some damage to the vehicle’s paint.
But, Bugeaud said, the vindictive nature of the letters is more disturbing.
“It’s criminal harassment,” he added.
Other people who were curious about the Canadian flag outside his home have come to the door and asked why it was flying, the major said.
Once he explained he was the Canadian liaison, the people understood and told him to continue flying the banner.
Because he has a small Canadian flag on the antenna on his car, people have asked him about it and they get the same answer, again with no problems, Bugeaud said.
The action of those who oppose him flying his country’s flag has left a sour taste in his mouth, but it isn’t bitter enough to stop serving in the United States.
“I love Americans. America is my second favorite country,” the major said.
However, he admitted he will have some second thoughts about recommending Canadians to visit Sierra Vista.
As for lowering the Canadian flag forever from in front of his home, Bugeaud says he won’t, for it would admit defeat.
“I’m not going to be intimidated,” he said.
Canadian Maj. Doug Bugeaud in front of his Sierra Vista home Thursday. Bugeaud has received anonymous comments about flying the Canadian flag and has had his vehicle egged. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)
Brave Canadian Soldier ans stupid immature individuals behaving severely disrespectfully of him and his family.
My understanding is that unless his home is an embassy he should not be flying the flag of another nation without the American flag also being flown. It annoyed me when my aunt and uncle flew the flag of Ireland with out also flying the US flag, so I've got nothing against Canada. (Throw the bums out Canada, btw and maybe we'll all be flying the Maple Leaf!)
As my brother said about my Aunt's flag, she should fly the "erin go bragh" flag or something like that, not the actual national flag of another country.
There's no excuse for this harrassment.
In any event, I think everything changes tomorrow with the Canadian election. The voice and message of Canada will change.
BTW: there was none of this while we were fighting the Cold war and the Federal Republic of Germany did exactly the same thing. Also the British Military Liaison flies the British flag with no problem. The problem is the low-lifes that have been tormenting him and his family.
I am glad he is flying the flag. He is a proud Canadian. This just makes the U.S. look bad. Sigh.
I have served alongside Canadian Officers and I have the utmost respect for then!
He can thank his government for bringing this on. Their anti American attitude and comments have frozen relations between Canada and the USA. Lets hope this week brings relief.
Seriously though, this guy certainly doesn't deserve this BS
Hear hear...
I know a retired Canadian Officer. He has one of the best military minds. And he has that dry wit that cracks me up.
People can be such jerks anymore.There is no longer any room to have a different viewpoint without being attacked, sometimes violently. Where is everyones sense of humor?
It was a heck of a sight.
He fits the "arrogant Canadian" picture to a tee!
Apologies to Maj Bugeaud for the irresponsible actions of some of our fellow citizens. In spite of our bickering, Canada and the U.S. are sibling nations, children of the same great British heritage.
Can an Arizona Freeper get in touch with him?
" there's also no excuse for him to continue to antagonize the jerks and encourage the harassment."
The guy's Canadian.
Not FRENCH!
There is no law whatsoever stating that a flag of another nation cannot be flown by itself. When the American flag is flown with the flag of another country, ALL FLAGS ARE FLOWN AT THE SAME LEVEL. There is a protocol as to where in the line of flags it should appear. The US Flag is NEVER flown in an inferior position to another flag, here or abroad, and other countries do not require the US or any other flag to be in an inferior position to their flag. I would never for a second require another sovreign country to have their flag inferior to ours, neither, without force, would I allow our flag to be inferior to theirs.
This Canadian soldier is within his rights to fly the Canadian flag in the manner described. He isn't doing anything wrong. This article stinks to me of leftists trying to paint conservatives as flag nazis.
That said, if someone is indeed vandalizing his property in this manner, they should be apprehended, prosecuted and made to deliver a personal apology.
From the VFW Web site (Note: This is etiquette, not law. And, it is for American Citizens flying the American flag, not foreigners. )
On Same Staff
U.S. flag at peak, above any other flag except a flag of another nation
Grouped
U.S. flag goes to its own right. Flags of other nations are flown at same height.
Marching
U.S. flag to marchers right (observer's left).
On Speaker's Platform
When displayed with a speaker's platform, it must be above and behind the speaker. If mounted on a staff it is on the speaker's right.
Decoration
Never use the flag for decoration. Use bunting with the blue on top, then white, then red.
Salute
Head bare (women and military leave hats on), right hand over heart, standing at attention
Over a Street
Union (stars) face north or east depending on the direction of the street.
Half Staff
On special days, the flag may be flown at half-staff. On Memorial Day it is flown at half-staff until noon and then raised.
Do not let the flag touch the ground.
Do not fly flag upside down unless there is an emergency.
Do not carry the flag flat, or carry things in it.
Do not use the flag as clothing.
Do not store the flag where it can get dirty.
Do not use it as a cover.
Do not fasten it or tie it back. Always allow it to fall free.
Do not draw on, or otherwise mark the flag.
Your countrymen actions and words are far different. Get you head out of your butt!
LOL! Very amusing story.
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Nonsense. The dopes who did this are solely responsible for their own behaviour.
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