Posted on 08/15/2007 5:31:41 PM PDT by exg
Pro-troop decals removed UPDATED: 2007-08-15 02:54:03 MST
Calgary garbage trucks pulled into the garage to have yellow ribbon stickers scraped off
By SHAWN LOGAN, SUN MEDIA
Yellow ribbon decals were removed from a handful of garbage trucks as some city employees continue to defy council's decision that shot down a plan to adorn civic vehicles with the patriotic decorations.
A foreman for Calgary's waste and recycling services sent about a dozen trucks to the garage yesterday to have the offending decals -- proclaiming Support Our Troops -- scraped off the bumpers, leaving one worker, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal, questioning why the city would step in to prevent him from showing support for soldiers in harm's way.
"We're driving down laneways picking up everybody's garbage and I'm sure there's a few people out there with family and friends in Afghanistan and this is just a good shot in the arm," said the employee, who said he was upset when he heard the yellow ribbons were to be removed.
"This really bothers me -- what's the harm in putting a sticker on a truck?"
The worker said the stickers were picked up at union headquarters last week and placed on the vehicles but when they were noticed, a foreman ordered the trucks into the maintenance yard to scrape them off with tools and solvent.
He added he's not sure if they will defy the order and place new stickers.
Rick Valdarchi, manager of collection services, said the foreman was simply following council's policy.
"This is a sensitive issue but at the end of the day we were given direction by council and the policy is decals will not be displayed on fleet units," he said.
"The foreman was correct to remove them -- I'm not sure (our employees) were aware what the policy was."
Valdarchi said the workers won't be disciplined in this case and he wouldn't speculate on what action would be taken should there be further defiance.
Dozens of city vehicles, including police cars, buses and ambulances, showed up at a "yellow ribbon checkstop" earlier this month at the Calgary Police Association headquarters, contrary to last month's council decision.
Ald. Ric McIver, who pushed to have the entire civic fleet emblazoned with yellow ribbons, said he was disappointed the stickers were removed.
"This is a shame -- it's a poor decision by whoever made it," he said. "I appreciate the staff did this to say they support the men and women who are putting themselves in harm's way. Previous
I like sane, friendly Canadians, not the Leftist CANUTS who rule in little Soviet satellite areas from Quebec to the far-western,far-left provinces including Chicom City - i.e. Vancouver.
To their brave troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the war on terrorism, we, the people of the United States (with the exception of our Stalinist and cowardly Left), support you and your efforts.
Hoorah!!
Thank you ! Your country’s troops and their families are on my mind as well as Canadian troops.
Best Wishes to Every Canadian member of the Military.
Their service and sacrifice guards the freedom of all of us..
canadian soldier ping
Wow - supporting your team is a sensitive issue.
This is crazy. Even leftists claim to “support the troops”. What kind of leftist nutball was opposed to this? These stickers are about as controversial as a pink breast cancer ribbon.
P*ss on the left.
Who is the mayor of Calgary? He ougta be really really ashamed. When David Miller, one of the worst leftist POSs ever is more patriotic than you, that is when you should start contemplating suicide.
This just sucks.
Mayor David Bronconnier
http://www.joindave.com/joindave/contact.cfm
Thank you to our American friends for your support of our military personnel.
I e-mailed the mayor of Calgary and asked him a simple question—Dear Mr. Mayor, why are you telling soldier’s families that we are on our own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Smegging Commie gits. Some people just need a damned good hiding.
BIG DITTO.
More than 2,900 Canadian soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel are deployed overseas on operational missions. On any given day, about 8,000 Canadian Forces members - one third of our deployable force - are preparing for, engaged in or returning from an overseas mission.
Since 1947, the CF has completed 72 international operations. That figure does not include current operations, or the many CF operations carried out in Canada.
I'll be writing him today.
The only way to stop this is to hire Socialists and put them to work removing decals.
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