City working through flag controversy

Sisters' episode of "flags of fury" came to a head and then receded at last Thursday's city council meeting on March 13.

The city became embroiled in a heated controversy after declining to fund and place a 25-foot flagpole overlooking a stone monument honoring Sisters veterans in the Village Green. The city cited as its reason the prior existence of a Veterans Memorial Park funded and maintained by volunteers.

A parade of locals addressed the mayor and city council members, often emotionally and sometimes with accusations of lack of respect and patriotism.

When the onslaught was finished, Mayor Brad Boyd explained calmly that the city council was not opposed to having a flag: The whole issue revolves around finding the most appropriate place for a veterans memorial, a venue that will not only honor all veterans but also respect the work that has already gone into an existing veterans memorial in West Portal Park at the west entrance to the city.

The city council has no desire to undermine the community effort that has already taken place on the current veterans memorial. Both the Sisters Rotary Club and students, faculty and parents from Sisters Christian Academy have labored long and hard to create and maintain the present memorial.

The issue actually began to roil six months ago.

"In September 2007 the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) requested that they have a flag pole and rock installed at Village Green Park so they can conduct their ceremonies," said Sisters city councilor Bill Merrill.

The VFW was unaware at the time that there was an existing memorial in Sisters. Likewise, the city council recognized that the present location of the memorial because of size constraints is not adequate for whatever ceremonies the VFW proposed.

As a result of this dilemma, in January 2008 Phil Gale, Post Commander for Sisters VFW Post 8138, was told that the city would like to have one location for a veterans memorial. Further, the city asked Gale to discuss the VFW's proposed memorial at Village Green Park with the parties (the Rotary Club and Sisters Christian Academy) who had placed the original monument and who currently maintain it.

At last Thursday's city council meeting, Gale acknowledged with a nod of the head that the request had been made. However, there was apparently no communication between Gale and folks from the Rotary Club or the Christian school.

Instead, rumors started to circulate that the city was unpatriotic and refused to allow a flag at Village Green Park.

Now all parties are trying to find a way out of what has become a statewide controversy and fodder for afternoon talk radio. Veterans left the meeting with a calmer demeanor.

Since Thursday's meeting, Merrill has taken on the project personally.

"What I have done is contacted Peggy Miller of the Sonrise Christian Academy (Sisters Christian Academy), Peg Bermel from the Rotary and said: 'We need to get together to coordinate and establish a veterans memorial park someplace,'" he said.

There doesn't appear to be an overnight solution.

"I am afraid that this is going to take a little time to work out. Peg (Bermel) said that she needed to talk to her board before she could have an answer, and the first board meeting is on (March 24). I am working on it, but it is just going to take a little time," said Merrill.