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.
I suppose if I were a Texan, that would aggrivate me, but that is an appropriate positioning of the flag. Sadly, if it were the Mexican flag or the Iranian flag, they would appear at the same height, according to protocol.
I can't think of any reason why he should be cowered by the illegal actions of misguided patriots. Why let them win?
Should we surrender to minor acts of terrorism? I'm afraid to ask what your suggestion might be for major acts of terrorism.
These idiots that are giving this Canadian officer so much flack are
acting like...
ME when I post without thinking here at freerepublic!
I hope they (and I) get a bit slower with the heaving of eggs.
Here's probably the best way:
SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
I don't wish to subject to more ill behavior by giving out any home information beyond what is in the paper.
So you think he's right in principle, but that he should nonetheless cave in to punks threatening his family ?
The Retreat ceremony [lowering of the colors at the end of the day] was a major function in those days. As the colors were lowered and all were saluting, I often wondered if the CG from a Confederate State was not exacting a payback by having the Texas flag saluted. :-)
This time of year there are Canadian flags all over Arizona as the "Snow Birds" are avoiding the cold weather at home.
I can't understand the attitude of Arizonians against a group that dumps millions into their economy.
No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: From the U.S. code.
You should have seen some of the stuff called in to the "Out of Your Mind" errrrr..... "On your mind" column.
These are low IQ types at the best.
If she hadn't worn a short skirt, she wouldn't have been raped. Its her fault?
Like California Arizona's problems lie to the South, not Canada. Canadians are wonderful folk as a rule.
Hopefully, he doesn't back down. God Bless the good Canadians.
And to hell with the others
Fly whatever he wants UNDER the American flag!
Somebody needs to grow up.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
Boo fucking hoooooooo.
Try flying the Stars and Stripes in Kanada and see what happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have met the current CLO a couple of times. The last time was last week. He was leaving and I was entering. He commented about how nice the weather was. (Was being the operative word... Oh well at least it's raining today).
I don't recommend any yahoos try this sort of cr@p here in central Texas. His American buddies might not take kindly to it, and since they are Texians, at least temporarily, you never know just what they might do about it.
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