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ANGRY VFW COLOR GUARD WILL BOYCOTT MEMORIAL

DAY PARADE -- "Not one person from the town has

embraced us...instead, they're disgracing us."

Steve Murray, manager of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Middle Street in Fairhaven, says the post has been the victim of backlash from town officials over a fatal stabbing last month after a hip-hop event at the hall. He said the melee has eclipsed good work the post has done. (photo: JOHN SLADEWSKI / The Standard-Times)

This is the height of lunacy.

Why would a VFW color guard boycott a Memorial Day Parade?  Because their feelings got hurt?  Can they be that small?

This VFW color guard should march in the parade and the rest of the town be damned.

If they don't march, then they do veterans everywhere a great disservice.

Story here... http://www.southcoasttoday.com/
apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080509/NEWS/805090342

Story below:

-------------------------

Fairhaven VFW color guard will boycott Memorial Day Parade

FAIRHAVEN — Angry with town officials' treatment of the VFW in the wake of a fatal stabbing last month, the post's color guard will boycott the town's Memorial Day parade, a VFW official said.

"Not one person from the town has embraced us; instead, they're disgracing us," said Steve Murray, the Veterans of Foreign Wars post's manager. "I just feel like (town officials) are out to get us."

Since one man was fatally stabbed and two others seriously injured April 4 after a hip-hop event at the VFW, the activities at the post have been placed under a bright spotlight.

However, that spotlight has obscured all the good work the VFW has done in the community over the past two years, according to Mr. Murray.

He has donated the post's function hall to raise money for everything from Coastline Elderly to the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge to the Relay for Life, he said.

Last year, when a neighbor's house burned down, Mr. Murray hosted an event at the VFW that raised almost $10,000, he said.

"Everybody forgets the good we did," Mr. Murray said. "We're all veterans here."

The organization also takes safety seriously, according to the manager. The night of the stabbing, four security officers worked the hip-hop event, all wearing black shirts clearly labeled "security," he said.

After the stabbing, Mr. Murray canceled all youth-oriented events that had been scheduled at the VFW.

"We're never going to do that anymore," he said. "We're not the bad guys here."

Town officials counter that they are not painting the VFW as the villain, but merely taking steps to prevent future tragedies.

"It's certainly our job to have a hearing and discuss the issues that were raised following the murder of that individual," said Selectman Brian Bowcock, who has held a couple of functions at the VFW.

Selectmen have scheduled a hearing with VFW management on June 2 that will allow Mr. Murray an opportunity to address the concerns raised by the fire chief and the police chief, according to Selectman Michael Silvia.

Fire Chief Timothy Francis recently wrote a letter to selectmen in which he expressed concerns that the VFW may not be in compliance with the state's sprinkler laws.

The VFW was sent a letter in 2007 outlining what events they could and could not hold if they did not have a sprinkler system; they signed an affidavit stating they would comply with those guidelines, according to Chief Francis.

However, the VFW allegedly is not meeting those standards, he said.

Mr. Murray said the VFW recently spent $11,500 installing an updated system of smoke alarms.

According to Police Chief Gary Souza, the police have been called to the VFW 11 times during the past two years for complaints made either by a neighbor or by a police officer on patrol. (Mr. Murray said the police have come to the VFW on only four or five occasions during that time period.)

There have been instances when event organizers or VFW management have been "less than helpful," said Chief Souza.

However, Mr. Murray and other officers from the VFW have met with both chiefs recently, said Chief Souza, and indicated they want to cooperate with public safety officials to prevent any future tragedies.

"I came away encouraged by the meeting," he said.

Contact Charis Anderson at canderson@s-t.com 

-------------------------

posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org

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