Possible Disneyland Flag Retreat Ceremony Changes

[Shorty82]

Just uploaded a bunch of photos. They're not in the correct order but I'm not sure how to fix that. All the pictures are from 9/10/09. I still have a bunch of photos from 9/11 to upload.

[ktulu]

I may be able to re-arrange them.

Thanks again to DisneyMom, Wombat-san, and Shorty for contributing the pics! I'm going to try and get it updated a bit more tomorrow if I get time.

[Mayonnaise]

Jeepers. This is a load. There's no reason they should stop this guy from honoring vets... *Shakes head.*

But uh... whoever said folk who don't pay attention to flag retreat should be deported.... thats a bit harsh don't ya think?

8^S

[Plutospal]

I wish there was a way to stage a little peaceful protest this weeked, i being MLK's bday weekend, after all MLK famous words "I have a dream", the flag retreat was Ernie's dream. If you know how to let people know to turn out for flag retreat, say sunday or monday, fill town square, maybe some homemade signs,......Im just saying

[Main Streeter]

I wish there was a way to stage a little peaceful protest this weeked, it being MLK's bday weekend, after all MLK famous words "I have a dream", the flag retreat was Ernie's dream. If you know how to let people know to turn out for flag retreat, say sunday or monday, fill town square, maybe some homemade signs,......Im just saying

Fantastic idea Plutospal. MLK is a hero of Ernie's, & Ernie did particpate in desegregating his high school in Richmond, Va. Our problem this weekend - Ernie is on vacation for 2 weeks thus will not be @ DL for Flag Retreat. He will be so shocked & pleased to see your post. Knew I always liked you. ;) Thank You! Your idea won't be forgotten. Let's work on a date. I'll call Ernie.

[Shorty82]

I wish there was a way to stage a little peaceful protest this weeked, i being MLK's bday weekend, after all MLK famous words "I have a dream", the flag retreat was Ernie's dream. If you know how to let people know to turn out for flag retreat, say sunday or monday, fill town square, maybe some homemade signs,......Im just saying

I hate to say it but I can almost guarantee you that if you even got in with the signs the second you started the protest Disneyland Security and probably Anaheim Police would be all over you. Disney is not going to let anybody protest anything anywhere on their property, let alone inside a park.

The thing to do is to have a bunch of people watch the ceremony then all go to City Hall to politely compliment or complain (depending on how it goes) about the aspects of the ceremony. Writing letters and emails are also good ideas.

[Plutospal]

It was intended to be a peaceful gathering, just letting our support of Ernie be seen and possibly noticed by the powers that be

[Shorty82]

I just got off the phone with Ernie a few minutes ago. We spoke about this for over an hour. He is very upset by what is going on. He wants our support, he wants this to go across the Internet. He wants people to write Entertainment, Guest Relations, etc. and tell them they support him and his handing the flag to a veteran.

That right there is the cusp of this entire thing, the powers that be have suddenly gotten uptight about the flag being handed to guests. They're afraid of being sued by a veteran because the flag was given to a lower ranking veteran instead of them, despite the fact that in all the years he has been doing this not one person has complained or sued.

Seems that political correctness is running a muck among the powers-that-be. That they are forgetting that it is these veterans that paid for our freedoms, such as the freedom to have a place like Disneyland. Who better than a veteran that fought for everything the flag represents than the people who fought for it?

One of the managers says that it is to much like a funeral because people are crying. I've been to funerals and to the DL Flag Retreat, the latter is nothing like a funeral, people are crying because the ceremony moved them, not at the loss of a loved one. People cry everyday at Disneyland, parents cry at the sight of their little one running up to meet Mickey or whoever for the first time, people who are seeing Main Street and the Castle for the first time, etc.

He doesn't want a lot of pomp and circumstance, he doesn't want a procession down Main Street, all he wants to do is hand the flag for a few minutes to a veteran of our Armed Forces.

[Shorty82]

It was intended to be a peaceful gathering, just letting our support of Ernie be seen and possibly noticed by the powers that be

Seems to me at least that it could be seen in a negative light by those powers, which will do more harm than good. It is important to keep things positive as that will get more done than negativity will.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Perhaps the light of day need to be shed on the situation.