thedrifter
12-03-05, 02:52 PM
Veterans groups criticize Brookfield alderman
POW-MIA flag should be a daily reminder of missing service members, groups say
By REID J. EPSTEIN
repstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 2, 2005
Quotable
This helps to remind us that these people are missing that we ought to be looking for them.
- Mike “Gunner” Furgal,
state adjutant/quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Wisconsin
The flag as a symbol of POWs and MIAs emphasizes a negative aspect of military involvement.
- Steve Ponto,
Brookfield alderman
Brookfield - State and national veterans groups are criticizing an alderman's opposition to flying the POW-MIA flag daily at City Hall.
Ald. Steve Ponto is a member of a Common Council committee that unanimously approved flying the POW-MIA flag daily in front of City Hall. But he has asked that the move be reconsidered at a meeting next Wednesday, saying the black-and-white flag is a negative symbol of the atrocities of war that often fuel anti-military sentiment.
Mike Surles, an associate member of the National League of POW-MIA Families who wrote Ponto to express disappointment, said Friday that although the federal government flies the flag six days a year at the White House and other offices, citizens should remember missing soldiers on a daily basis.
"If we can't support these folks and if we can't support the return of our missing in action, then pack your bags and go to North Korea and see if you like it any better over there," Surles said in an interview.
The Waukesha County courthouse and the State Capitol fly the POW-MIA flag every day.
Mike "Gunner" Furgal, the state adjutant/quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Wisconsin, said seeing the flag flying at the Capitol every day helps him remember those who have not returned from combat.
"There are people missing from all past wars, even the current conflict in Iraq," Furgal said. "This helps to remind us that these people are missing that we ought to be looking for them."
Furgal said representatives from the VFW's Brookfield post will attend the Wednesday meeting when the matter is scheduled to be discussed again.
The committee first approved flying the flag 365 days a year last month, but Ponto said he gave the issue more thought and believes the flag should fly only six days. Ponto said the flag is a reminder of the Vietnam War and the downsides of fighting international battles.
"The flag as a symbol of POWs and MIAs emphasizes a negative aspect of military involvement," he said. "It's not the fault of the POWS and the MIAs. It's like when you see the car bombs blowing up on the nightly news, it constantly emphasizes the cost of war."
Ponto said that emphasis hurts morale for the Iraq war at home.
"One of the reasons it's so hard to maintain broad-based support for our military action in Iraq is that we're not emphasizing what we're achieving," he added. "We're emphasizing the negative aspects of it, the cost."
Complicated issue
Ponto said he would soon release a written statement detailing his thoughts on the matter.
"I really think it's difficult to present a nuanced position on a complicated issue through a reporter," he said.
The issue of whether to fly the POW-MIA flag daily or on the six federally designated days - Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW-MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day - is one that often divides veterans groups, said Ann Mills Griffiths, the executive director of the National League of POW-MIA Families.
'Not cheerful,' but a symbol
But Griffiths disputed Ponto's assertion that the flag is depressing or displays the negatives from war.
"Is it depressing? No," she said. "It's not cheerful, but it certainly is a symbol of principles in this country."
Ellie
POW-MIA flag should be a daily reminder of missing service members, groups say
By REID J. EPSTEIN
repstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 2, 2005
Quotable
This helps to remind us that these people are missing that we ought to be looking for them.
- Mike “Gunner” Furgal,
state adjutant/quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Wisconsin
The flag as a symbol of POWs and MIAs emphasizes a negative aspect of military involvement.
- Steve Ponto,
Brookfield alderman
Brookfield - State and national veterans groups are criticizing an alderman's opposition to flying the POW-MIA flag daily at City Hall.
Ald. Steve Ponto is a member of a Common Council committee that unanimously approved flying the POW-MIA flag daily in front of City Hall. But he has asked that the move be reconsidered at a meeting next Wednesday, saying the black-and-white flag is a negative symbol of the atrocities of war that often fuel anti-military sentiment.
Mike Surles, an associate member of the National League of POW-MIA Families who wrote Ponto to express disappointment, said Friday that although the federal government flies the flag six days a year at the White House and other offices, citizens should remember missing soldiers on a daily basis.
"If we can't support these folks and if we can't support the return of our missing in action, then pack your bags and go to North Korea and see if you like it any better over there," Surles said in an interview.
The Waukesha County courthouse and the State Capitol fly the POW-MIA flag every day.
Mike "Gunner" Furgal, the state adjutant/quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Wisconsin, said seeing the flag flying at the Capitol every day helps him remember those who have not returned from combat.
"There are people missing from all past wars, even the current conflict in Iraq," Furgal said. "This helps to remind us that these people are missing that we ought to be looking for them."
Furgal said representatives from the VFW's Brookfield post will attend the Wednesday meeting when the matter is scheduled to be discussed again.
The committee first approved flying the flag 365 days a year last month, but Ponto said he gave the issue more thought and believes the flag should fly only six days. Ponto said the flag is a reminder of the Vietnam War and the downsides of fighting international battles.
"The flag as a symbol of POWs and MIAs emphasizes a negative aspect of military involvement," he said. "It's not the fault of the POWS and the MIAs. It's like when you see the car bombs blowing up on the nightly news, it constantly emphasizes the cost of war."
Ponto said that emphasis hurts morale for the Iraq war at home.
"One of the reasons it's so hard to maintain broad-based support for our military action in Iraq is that we're not emphasizing what we're achieving," he added. "We're emphasizing the negative aspects of it, the cost."
Complicated issue
Ponto said he would soon release a written statement detailing his thoughts on the matter.
"I really think it's difficult to present a nuanced position on a complicated issue through a reporter," he said.
The issue of whether to fly the POW-MIA flag daily or on the six federally designated days - Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW-MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day - is one that often divides veterans groups, said Ann Mills Griffiths, the executive director of the National League of POW-MIA Families.
'Not cheerful,' but a symbol
But Griffiths disputed Ponto's assertion that the flag is depressing or displays the negatives from war.
"Is it depressing? No," she said. "It's not cheerful, but it certainly is a symbol of principles in this country."
Ellie