By: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

You know, the other olive garden… I hear in certain locales they are contemplating live entertainment with top billing going to the Dixie Chicks. 😉 Careful you don’t bring in an American flag, you are likely to get kissed on the cheek.

From The Radio Patriot:

UPDATE! You should go to Olive Garden or any of the Darden restaurants WITH YOUR FLAGS. Little ones, big ones, bring ‘em. Be sure to have your videocams with you.

And if someone at the restaurant tells you you cannot bring the flag into the restaurant, tell them to call the police and have you removed. Videotape everything.

Then call the local media and plant yourself there with your flag. Defy them, politely.

What are the corporate brains thinking of? What will they do on Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day? Memorial Day? Independence Day?

If they had half a brain, they’d be handing you a flag as you walked in the door. Or offering you a 20% discount off your meal if YOU ARE carrying a flag.

I enjoy dining at Olive Garden — their soup and salad are my favorite, and their Italian dishes are always enjoyable. But…

I’m not so sure the food wouldn’t stick in my throat after reading this.

Woman upset over no-flag policy at restaurant

ANNISTON, AL (WBRC) -A restaurant chain’s policy has an Anniston woman upset. A little more than a month ago Marti Warren went to the Olive Garden in Oxford to see about holding a Kiwanis Club banquet there. The restaurant agreed, but it wasn’t until the night of the banquet Warren learned that she would not be allowed to bring the American flag inside the building.

Warren said, “This is not my country. This is not my country I grew up with.”

And at 80-years-old Warren knows a few things about this country. She lived through World War II, was on the front lines pushing for desegregation in Anniston, and was an educator for decades so when she was told she couldn’t display her American flag at a Kiwanis club meeting Warren was outraged. “I was so angry. I felt like I had been slapped in the face.”

That slap came from the Oxford Olive Garden. One hour before the Golden K Kiwanis club’s awards banquet the restaurant manager told Warren she couldn’t bring in their banner or even an American flag. “I said having known this earlier you can bet we never would have eaten here. And I said if we had time we would have gone to McDonald’s because we know they are American all the way through,” said Warren.

We contacted the Olive Garden’s parent company Darden restaurants. They gave us this statement: Read the rest.

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The parent company of Olive Garden is Darden, located in Orlando, Florida. Darden also owns Longhorn Steakhouse, Red Lobster, Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, and Seasons 52. The company’s Chairman and CEO is Clarence Otis, Jr..

I called the company this morning to say I am so disgusted by their shameful decision that I will not patronize any of their restaurants unless and until they reverse and publicly apologize for their action.

I urge you to do the same!

Call Darden at (407) 245-4000, ask for Guest Relations and leave a strong message for Clarence Otis, Jr.!

Please forward this to everyone on your contact list.

Sharon L. Cook, PH.D.