Vets unhappy with Kellogg mayor, council

KELLOGG - Local veterans organizations, displeased with the city of Kellogg and its recent decisions, assembled on Sunday afternoon at Kellogg City Park to make their sentiments known.

Under dark and restless skies, a large crowd gathered near the flag pole and Ten Commandments tablet. Veterans and their families waved American flags and held up homemade signs. High overhead, Kellogg's "Tree City, USA" banner - a major source of the controversy - flapped in a stiff breeze.

It was not a protest, not technically, but there was still acrimony in the air. As the rally progressed, the crowd focused on two perceived antagonists: the Kellogg City Council and Kellogg Mayor Mac Pooler.

Last Thursday, the city removed the long-standing Veteran's Memorial from its original location (in front of the Scout house) and planted it alongside the new Silver Valley Veteran's Memorial a few hundred feet to the north. The old memorial honors Shoshone County servicemen from World Wars I, II and the Korean War. The city also removed the American flag from the memorial's flag pole and re-hung the Tree City flag.

These actions were not well-received by many veterans, who consider the relocation inappropriate and the flying of the Tree City flag an insult.

In short order local citizens organized Sunday's rally, led by VFW member Casey Duncan.

Duncan was the first to speak at the rally. He railed against the city's decisions, saying it was not right and that the removal was not undertaken in a prudent, respectful manner. He also said the flag pole, in his opinion, was a part of the memorial, and that it deserved an American flag flying proudly from its summit - not a Tree City flag.

The city, Duncan said, did not consider the viewpoint of all veterans groups. He implored the assembly to right the injustice.

"It's up to each and every one of you to ask the mayor and the city of Kellogg why," Duncan said. "Why would you do this to Shoshone County? Why would you do this to veterans and the friends of veterans? We need all of you to go up to the next City Council meeting, May 12, six o'clock."

Also in attendance, Sen. Joyce Broadsword urged reconciliation, asking the citizens to work with their elected officials.

"Our job is now to find a path forward to make the most of the situation," Broadsword said. "I encourage us to let the past go, not the memories."

Others voiced their support of Shoshone County veterans, without whom, they said, our basic liberties would not exist. Many wanted the memorial moved back to its original spot, and an American flag returned to the flag pole.

VFW member Joe Wallace said the park should be called by its rightful name, Memorial Park - the name inscribed on the plaque of the old Veterans Memorial.

"Let's get this straightened out properly," Wallace said, drawing loud applause from the crowd. "This is not the Kellogg City Park. This is Memorial Park."

Dwight Suitter, a World War II veteran, said the issue went beyond civic dispute.

"This is not a city thing," Suitter said. "This is not a county thing. This is a human thing."

Rallying his listeners to action, he then quoted Thomas Jefferson, writer of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, in saying, "The roots of the tree of liberty must occasionally be watered with blood."

Duncan closed out the rally with a few parting words, once again asking the citizens to attend the City Council meeting next week.

Mayor Pooler (an Army veteran himself) did not attend the rally, but he offered some insight into the city's decision-making process. Last fall, a delegation of Silver Valley Veterans Memorial committeemen - Lee Haynes, Chuck French and Joe Hauser - met with Pooler and Councilman Merv Hill to discuss their concerns.

At the time, the Tree City flag was on the same pole as the American flag, both flapping over the old Veterans Memorial in City Park (the two standards had been flying in tandem for over 12 years). The delegation told Pooler it was against United States code to fly an American flag on the same pole as an advertising flag. Additionally, any American flag raised at night was required to have constant illumination, which the current setup did not have.

So, Pooler explained, the three men drew up a list of recommendations. One was to "Move the plaque to the new Veterans Memorial site. The city will provide for proper illumination of the U.S. flag as required by U.S. code."

The council deliberated and voted 6-0 to move the old memorial. For a brief time the Tree City flag was lowered and the American flag flew alone, Pooler said. Once the relocation was complete, the Tree City flag was raised again by itself, in compliance with U.S. code.

"Evidently, that didn't make another group of [veterans] happy," Pooler said. "So the other guys got involved, and that's where we are. Our assumption was that they (Haynes, French and Hauser) represented the veterans. I think it just got to the point that there was a miscommunication and misunderstanding."

The May 12 City Council meeting will almost certainly be well-attended. Pooler said those who wish to speak will be heard.

"We ask that they get on the agenda and list the people that want to speak, which they have," the mayor said. "And we'll listen to what they have to say. I think the key to it was that our assumption when the decision was made was we were dealing with [all] the veterans. It wasn't intended as animosity towards the veterans or a 'slap in the face.'"