Posted on 10/13/2011 5:36:30 AM PDT by IbJensen
ANNISTON, Ala. -- Officials with the parent company of Olive Garden restaurants say they're sorry if a decision regarding an Alabama Kiwanis club's desire to display the American flag caused any concern.
The comments come after 80-year-old Marti Warren of Anniston said she wasn't allowed to bring an American flag into an Olive Garden for a planned Kiwanis Club banquet in the east Alabama town of Oxford.
Warren learned the night of the banquet that she wouldn't be allowed to display the flag or the Kiwanis banner in the restaurant, she said.
"I was so angry," she told WBRC-TV. "I felt like I had been slapped in the face."
Orlando-based parent firm Darden restaurants said in a statement that "like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes."
The Oxford Olive Garden lacks a private dining area, which led to the decision, company officials said.
"To be fair to everyone and avoid disrupting the dining experience for all other guests, they're unable to accommodate flags or banners of any type in the dining room," according to the statement.
Without a flag at the Kiwanis banquet, Warren said she asked club members to close their eyes and picture the flag waving in the wind as they said the pledge of allegiance.
have you ever seen a Kiwanis group, or a Lion’s Group or for that matter, an Community serving group make a scene or do ‘chants’ or disrupt any ones dining experience???
I NEVER HAVE...THEY ARE GROUPS THAT GIVE AND GIVE AND GIVE SOME MORE.
The CEO’s bio on Wikipedia mentions that he “seems to be a Democrat.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Otis,_Jr.
Why is everyone ignoring post 52?
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/15681535/olive-garden-apologizes-to-kiwanis-club
I think just having a Kiwani meeting in a restaurant without a separate dining area would be disruptive enough. Heck, just having a table celebrating a birthday and having all the waitresses come storming out of the kitchen clapping their hands and singing their version of Happy Birthday is disruptive. Why would somebody think that total strangers are excited and happy to share in their lives, be it a birthday or a meeting of the Loyal Order of Water Buffalos?
We stopped going to OG many years ago. I can’t stand the constant playing of Frank Sinatra music, it makes me sick. Our closest OG is located next door to a RL, which we LOVE. I will continue to go to RL.
No more Olive Garden for me! I bet if it was a Mexican Flag that would have been OK.
Darden Restaurants is owned by General Mills! Fake Italian food and Wheaties, great combination.
The politicAl statement, the anti america progressive attitude is on the manager
To tolerate his action is tacit approval
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