Rallies, Flags and Yellow Ribbons

Will La Verne become a “Saddam-free zone?” Or will it take a lower-key approach to supporting U.S. troops in the Gulf War, perhaps by raising a supportive street banner?

Those are the questions being mulled over by city staff members, who were asked Monday by the City Council to study ways the city could indicate its support. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Harvey suggested a street banner saying “Our prayers are with you.” Councilman Craig Walters preferred the more flamboyant approach of designating La Verne a “Saddam-free zone.”

Here are some other war-related activities in the San Gabriel Valley this week:

* Azusa will oversee a fund-raising campaign to buy American flags for all major intersections in the city. City Council members began the campaign Monday by making donations themselves and urging all residents to do the same. Anyone interested in donating money was advised to contact City Hall. The council also unanimously approved a resolution supporting President Bush and the troops.

* Operation Desert Support and the San Gabriel Valley Republican Party have scheduled rallies Saturday in Alhambra and Pasadena. The Alhambra rally will be at the corner of Huntington Drive and Atlantic Boulevard; the Pasadena rally will be at the corner of Garfield Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. Both will be from noon to 2 p.m.

* Monrovia residents serving in the Persian Gulf will be getting a glimpse of home soon when the city begins mailing its newsletter, Monrovia Today, to participants in Operation Desert Storm. Assistant City Manager Jeanne Kennedy said the city has seven names and addresses of Monrovians stationed in the Gulf and is interested in getting additional names.

Kennedy said she hopes the newsletter, which covers Monrovia events, lists new city ordinances and includes photos of city and school contest-winners, will keep far-away residents up-to-date on their home town. Kennedy said she has no idea how long the newsletters will take to arrive in the Gulf.

* Temple City’s City Council approved a resolution Tuesday supporting U.S. and allied troops involved in the Persian Gulf War. City Manager Denise Ovrom reported that the city has purchased 200 yellow ribbon pins for city employees and others in the community, and has placed American flags along Las Tunas Drive and Temple City Boulevard. Council members asked the staff to find out the names of Temple City residents serving in the military so that the city can honor them with special certificates.

* Wearing yellow ribbons on their chests, the Diamond Bar City Council on Tuesday proclaimed Feb. 10-16 Yellow Ribbon Week. Businesses and residents in the city are encouraged to show their support for the troops by flying ribbons outside their homes, offices and shops.

In a related action, the council unanimously passed a resolution to “adopt” area reserve units mobilized for duty in the Gulf. The council and staff will consider ways to support the 155th Support and Supply Battalion from El Monte, the 6252nd Army Reserve Hospital from San Bernardino and the 16th Navy Construction Battalion from Los Alamitos.

According to administrative analyst Troy L. Butzlaff, the city knows of three Diamond Bar residents who are serving in the Gulf. Residents with relatives overseas are asked to call City Hall, (714) 860-2489.

In the discussion leading up to the decision, resident Ed Schultz announced the formation of an informal support group for residents of Diamond Bar or surrounding areas who have relatives in the Gulf. Schultz, whose son serves in the 82nd Airborne Division, can be reached at (714) 595-3931.

Free-lance writers Brad Haugaard, Karen E. Klein and Elena Farrington contributed to this story.