thedrifter
02-22-08, 04:51 AM
February 21, 2008
Indian Wells City Council to issue proclamation thanking Marines
The Desert Sun wire services
The Indian Wells City Council is expected to pass a proclamation today honoring Marines.
This proclamation comes as a response to Berkeley City Council's decision last month to tell Marine recruiters they are not welcome in the Bay Area city.
The Berkeley City Council ended up rescinding the January measure, which told recruiters they were ``unwelcome invaders,'' but the council still encouraged residents to ``avoid cooperation '' with them.
The Indian Wells proclamation states, in part, that the Marines have ``protected our citizens and guarded our freedoms; and whereas, through their superb skills in carrying out land, sea, and air operations, the officers and enlisted men and women of the United States Marines Corps have earned the respect and gratitude of all Americans.''
All five council members will back the proclamation, according to City Councilman Patrick Mullany, who moved to have it placed on the council's agenda.
``I became somewhat angered by what happened up in Berkeley,'' said Mullany, a former FBI agent who trained on the Marine base at Quantico, Va., and said he has ``huge respect'' for the Marines and their sacrifices.
He added that Indian Wells has a strong relationship with the nearby Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms -- as well as a large number of residents who are former Marines and volunteer in a program called SOS.
``They pick up Marines from the airport when they are recruited ... or when they return from Iraq and drive them to the base in Twentynine Palms,'' Mullany said.
He noted that Indian Wells offers Marines opportunities to leave the base and volunteer at the LG Skins Game and at next month's Pacific Life Open tennis tournament.
``This proclamation is way to say thank you for their sacrifices,'' he said, noting that dignitaries from the base in Twentynine Palms would accept the proclamation at the beginning of today's council meeting.
Mullany said the city also plans to thank the Marines for their services during a March 21 `Salute to Heroes' ceremony on center court at the Pacific Life Open.
City Councilman Larry Spicer, a former Air Force pilot, agreed with Mullany that the behavior of the Berkeley lawmakers was disturbing.
``I think that action did not support the many women and men fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq and around the world,'' he said. ``However, we are focusing on the Marines in the proclamation because that is what Berkeley focused on.''
The council meeting is set for 1:30 p.m at City Hall, 44950 Eldorado Drive.
Ellie
Indian Wells City Council to issue proclamation thanking Marines
The Desert Sun wire services
The Indian Wells City Council is expected to pass a proclamation today honoring Marines.
This proclamation comes as a response to Berkeley City Council's decision last month to tell Marine recruiters they are not welcome in the Bay Area city.
The Berkeley City Council ended up rescinding the January measure, which told recruiters they were ``unwelcome invaders,'' but the council still encouraged residents to ``avoid cooperation '' with them.
The Indian Wells proclamation states, in part, that the Marines have ``protected our citizens and guarded our freedoms; and whereas, through their superb skills in carrying out land, sea, and air operations, the officers and enlisted men and women of the United States Marines Corps have earned the respect and gratitude of all Americans.''
All five council members will back the proclamation, according to City Councilman Patrick Mullany, who moved to have it placed on the council's agenda.
``I became somewhat angered by what happened up in Berkeley,'' said Mullany, a former FBI agent who trained on the Marine base at Quantico, Va., and said he has ``huge respect'' for the Marines and their sacrifices.
He added that Indian Wells has a strong relationship with the nearby Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms -- as well as a large number of residents who are former Marines and volunteer in a program called SOS.
``They pick up Marines from the airport when they are recruited ... or when they return from Iraq and drive them to the base in Twentynine Palms,'' Mullany said.
He noted that Indian Wells offers Marines opportunities to leave the base and volunteer at the LG Skins Game and at next month's Pacific Life Open tennis tournament.
``This proclamation is way to say thank you for their sacrifices,'' he said, noting that dignitaries from the base in Twentynine Palms would accept the proclamation at the beginning of today's council meeting.
Mullany said the city also plans to thank the Marines for their services during a March 21 `Salute to Heroes' ceremony on center court at the Pacific Life Open.
City Councilman Larry Spicer, a former Air Force pilot, agreed with Mullany that the behavior of the Berkeley lawmakers was disturbing.
``I think that action did not support the many women and men fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq and around the world,'' he said. ``However, we are focusing on the Marines in the proclamation because that is what Berkeley focused on.''
The council meeting is set for 1:30 p.m at City Hall, 44950 Eldorado Drive.
Ellie