American Flag Not Allowed

[sgtjoe]

I just heard this about The Olive Garden not allowing The American Flag at a banquet. I for one will never set foot in the Olive Garden again.

Video Landing Page - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports=

[mustang652]

Yeah, this was on the national news and even though Olive Garden Corporate apologized, I think it has finished a lot of people on them anyway.

[bsirby]

Unbelievable! I don't see how the American Flag can disrupt other diners. I would not be bothered if I were dining there and someone wanted to pledge to the flag. Thanks for posting.

[W4MBG]

i think the next time we eat at olive garden i will bring a flag to set on the table.

[2912N]

I would venture a guess that a manager for OG is now on the Alabama unemployed list. Talk about a dumba#$ decision.

[damdannyboy]

I got a SALUTE for them, the one finger type!!

[Wayne M]

And unfortunately they get away with it. Had it been any other flag, so much stink would have been raised that they would have allowed it. Do they have any rooms besides "dining" rooms? (see statement at end of video)

[Mr_D]

Message from the Darden chain re: the flag

Quote:

Olive Garden President: "The American Flag Is Always Welcome." ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Statement from John Caron, president of Olive Garden: "To our friends and neighbors who may be concerned about whether or not guests can bring the American flag into Olive Garden, I want to assure you the American flag is always welcome in any of our restaurants. Anyone who wishes to bring the flag into our restaurants may certainly do so. I want to express my most heartfelt apology to anyone who has been offended by our mistake. The misunderstanding was purely a case of our corporate office giving incorrect information to one of our restaurants. We greatly regret that mistake and as a company we take responsibility for it. We are proud of our American roots and proud of our employees who are veterans and reservists, as well as all of our employees who serve their communities where they live and work. Olive Garden has nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes."

[Wayne M]

Mr D,
A link to that article would be nice to have.

Thanks.

[Bill Adams]

Let he who has no sin throw the first stone!

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M Mr D, A link to that article would be nice to have. Thanks.

OK

Darden Restaurants, Inc. - Olive Garden President: "The American Flag Is Always Welcome."

[Midniteoyl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D Message from the Darden chain re: the flag Olive Garden President: "The American Flag Is Always Welcome." ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Statement from John Caron, president of Olive Garden: "To our friends and neighbors who may be concerned about whether or not guests can bring the American flag into Olive Garden, I want to assure you the American flag is always welcome in any of our restaurants. Anyone who wishes to bring the flag into our restaurants may certainly do so. I want to express my most heartfelt apology to anyone who has been offended by our mistake. The misunderstanding was purely a case of our corporate office giving incorrect information to one of our restaurants. We greatly regret that mistake and as a company we take responsibility for it. We are proud of our American roots and proud of our employees who are veterans and reservists, as well as all of our employees who serve their communities where they live and work. Olive Garden has nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes."

They ONLY said that due to the OVERWHELMING Negative feedback and calls for boybotts of ALL there resterant chains.. Here' what they said 2 days before:

Quote:

In response, Olive Garden’s parent company, Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, said in a statement: “Like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes. In fact, we periodically provide American flag collar pins to our employees to wear while serving our guests. We understand and appreciate the way some people have reacted to the situation in Oxford and we’re very sorry if this decision has caused them any concern. The Oxford Olive Garden does not have a private dining area. To be fair to everyone and avoid disrupting the dining experience for all other guests, they’re unable to accommodate flags or banners of any type in the dining room.”

Olive Garden: American Flag Display Would ‘Disrupt the Dining Experience’ | Video | TheBlaze.com
Sounds a tad different, no?

[JOMARFL (FMCA 401058)]

I think the next time I go to Olive Garden I'm taking a table top flag, one of those small ones and see if they try to kick me out. If they do, it will be kicking and screaming all the way to the door.

After over 20 years in the military, ain't no one gonna tell me I can't display the American Flag. Respect their apology, but it smells of back peddling to cover someone's butt.

My wife eats there every Tuesday with a Friend, she's going to think twice about this now since she also put her time in the military just like me.

Blown out of proportion, could be but they wouldn't issue a statement if it didn't really take place. I'll test the waters next time, then make my decision.

[Gary RVRoamer]

OK, guys, they screwed up and they apologized. No need for any further bashing here. This thread is closed.