A non-issue to me. Unless the banquet is in some sort of separate function room, OG has to think of the other diners who have to share the same dining area. I certainly don’t want to look at a Kiwanis banner while I’m there. I suspect the American flag request is a bit of a red herring, thrown in to make this a story.
I’m on the Olive Garden’s side on this one. Heaven knows why they chose a restaurant in the main dining area rather than one with a private room. Stupid choice to make. And I happen to like Olive Garden’s food. Never had a bad meal there yet and I love their endless salad, and their breadsticks. They are delicious. If you haven’t been there for a long time, I suggest you try it again.