Posted on 11/13/2001 5:28:44 PM PST by Dakotabound
2...
1...
I'm trying to find contact information...don't want to flood the small county courthouse...they don't have email listed yet.
Patriotic gesture backfires
By George Alexander, staff writer
Patriotic to one business owner is not patriotic to Walton County.
The Sandollar Diner on U.S. 98 was cited by county code enforcement officer J.M. Newborn on Monday for displaying a banner with the words Thanks For Traveling and an America flag on it. Banners are prohibited along the scenic corridor of U.S. 98 under the countys land development code.
Greg Oswalt, the diners agent, said the banner was patriotic and should be allowed because of Americas current circumstances. The idea behind the banner was to promote business and tourism and support President Bushs request for Americans to keep spending their money, Oswalt said.
He said he knew it was against the code but thought there might be leniency from the county because of the banners patriotic nature.
He also admitted getting irate when he called the code enforcement office to ask about the citation.
With all the service people in this area going overseas, I asked (Newborn) if he was from Afghanistan, Oswalt said.
Senior code enforcement officer Dan Trotman said Newborn was only doing his job.
Trotman said any business owner who wished to put up a patriotic sign could obtain a permit after a five minute permitting process and paying a $10 fee.
If people work with us, well work with them, Trotman said.
Though Oswalt received the citation, he doesnt even own the banner it was given to the restaurant by the Sleep Inn in South Walton as part of a larger tourism marketing campaign by Choice Hotels International.
The manager of the Sleep Inn, who asked not to be identified, said the banners were given out to try and help everybody, not to get anyone in trouble. She sympathized with the diner.
There should have been leniency, she said.
Looks like he should be able to pay a $10 permit and hang the banner. But from the MSNBC story, it doesn't read that way. Let's find out.
Walton County Code Enforcement: 850-892-8157
15015 Emeraldcoast Pkwy, Destin, FL
(850) 837-9650
Heh. The road to hell is paved with
good intentions.
Print some and hang in your car window.
For a bigger high resolution download here: big flag pic
Not wanting to upset anyone, but this Clintonian circumlocution is meant to imply that the speaker served in Vietnam, but in fact didn't.
Another more eloquent Vietnam combat veteran could probably phrase this better.
It could also mean that he was in the service and was never SENT to Vietnam.
You go where the service sends you.
I work in the promotional products industry. I've got suppliers comming out of the woodwork with ideas on how to put a patriotic spin on advertising and promotional items.
The "Thanks for Traveling" crosses the line from being just patriotic to a business promotion. If he changed the text to "United We Stand" or "God Bless America" then he would be getting more sympathy from me.
It could also mean that he was in the service and was never SENT to Vietnam.
You go where the service sends you.
Yeah, but the way it was said, the attempt was made to imply a Vietnam Vet. I think he could have phase the comment a bit better without implying something that wasn't.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.