Posted on 07/29/2012 5:56:19 PM PDT by hiho hiho
CLACKAMAS, Ore. - A fight over the American flag is brewing at the Clackamas Town Center.
The manager of the children's train at the mall says he's being forced to remove flags that he uses to decorate the train ride.
Why? The mall told him the flags are against policy.
Thomas Phelps said he was floored when he got a letter from mall management telling him that the flags were "unapproved visuals."
That reference didn't sit too well with Phelps, who also happens to be a military veteran.
"That is dedicated to veterans and military, police, firefighters, EMTs - all those people that daily put their lives on the line for us," Phelps said. "That's what it's dedicated to. And if you're going to call that a Christmas decoration or something, then I'm sorry, I don't want to be around you. You're not in my country."
Phelps said he would understand if it was causing a problem but he said nobody has complained - not once.
And he isn't alone in his feelings. Connie Marsden, a local grandmother, told us "It's the United States. That's our flag. We should be proud of it. Not be forced to take it off a little ride for the kids."
The mall did not allow our news camera on its property but a family who took a train ride on Sunday told us they enjoyed the ride and didn't understand why the flags were a problem.
The Clackamas Town Center sent us a written response when we asked for comment. General Manager Dennis Curtis wrote in an e-mail "we honor, appreciate and respect everything the U.S. flag represents."
Still, Phelps said mall management isn't budging and he's prepared to lose his job before he takes down the flags.
"I may be fired, I may be thrown out of the mall, but I am not taking it down," he said.
Thanks for the contact info for the mall moron, ss!! Hope he gets inundated with calls from angry Americans!!
Someone in Oregon please offer this guy a better job where The Flag is proudly Flown. Any Proud American should boycott CTC immediatley.
This is no longer the United States but has become part of the turd world.
I can’t display an American flag. In my neighborhood they get stolen; not to be displayed, but to be destroyed.
Large flag decals on either side of the engine would be as effective and entirely proper.
Thank you for your service, and for being one of the one-in-a-million Californians who loves their home state enough to honor it by flying her standard.
I'm a native Californian, and can attest that in 50 years living there, that I never saw the bear flag flying more than a dozen times in anyone's yard.
Moving to Texas really drove that point home. It's routine to see the Lone Star flag flying in yards, at businesses, stickered on windows, stitched on hats, printed on clothing, etc.
And yes, Old Glory is flown just as prominently and frequently here.
The Mall has issued both a retraction and an apology.
The pressure worked.
The flag will remain.
Who owns the mall? I’ll bet foreigners. Find out who owns the mall and give them lots of unwanted attention. Names and addresses of the stockholders would be a good start.
I did in ‘66! Unfortunately I have many dear friends and classmates that aren’t so lucky. They live in Southern Oregon where the Fed (especially the Courts) and State have “gutted” the principal industry. Now they can’t leave.
Simple solution to the problem.......Boycot the mall and all the stores within it, put them out of business. IF the people stop shopping at the various stores located within the mall, the businesses will relocate, thus leaving a number of empty store spaces. Empty store spaces mean no rent money for the mall. Sooner or later the mall will be out of business. It’s a shame to penalize the other businesses but unless they protest the mall management rule agains’t the U.S. flag, why would you want a store in there anyway? Must be a muzzie mall.
Wow.....so wrote them a short email and actually got a response. It’s a form letter but it is something.....
Mr. XXXXXXXXX,
Thank you for contacting me with your feedback.
We honor, support and respect what the United States flag represents. The actions and letter that were communicated certainly did not convey that. And for this, we apologize. We can see how many were offended. It was never the intent to offend or show any disrespect. The U.S. flag will remain displayed at the kiddie train and in other locations within the mall. We wholeheartedly support those who fight to allow us and everyone else to display the flag. Clackamas Town Center hosts and sponsors events every year that recognize and honor these and other heroes and will continue to do so.
Thanks,
Dennis A. Curtis, CSM
Senior General Manager
Clackamas Town Center | General Growth Properties, Inc.
12000 SE 82nd Avenue | Suite 1093 | Happy Valley, OR 97086
Office 503.653.6613 | Fax 503.653.7251 | Email dennis.curtis@ggp.com
Thanks. A small step mankind. I would prefer to see two smaller flags (one one on each side in an upright position) on the headend of the locomotive.
Chicago?
Figures.
Looks like they had to backpedal pretty fast!
To be honest, if I had a choice, I’d rather be in Oregon than Virginia...Any day!
It’s back.
“Mall responds to uproar, says U.S. flags can stay on kiddie train”
http://www.katu.com/news/local/Mall-says-flags-on-kiddie-train-must-go-164211626.html
I hope it’s less than a week before you see this and ping the list.
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