By Ben Weathers
The Capital
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The head of Anne Arundel’s largest firefighters union on Friday called a decision to prohibit county fire trucks from participating in a commercial event to honor first responders on 9/11 “absurd.”
Mission BBQ in Glen Burnie will offer free sandwiches to police, firefighters and first responders Thursday, the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Volunteer fire companies are expected to be on hand to hang American flags from their engines — however, all county engines will be absent.
The reason: a 2013 county ethics commission opinion that took exception to allowing county fire engines to promote a private business, Fire Chief Michael Cox said. The county holds its own 9/11 memorial each year at the police and fire department headquarters in Millersville.
“The fact that we’d say that the ‘no flags from career truck’ but allow volunteer companies from other jurisdictions is absurd and it’s silly,” said Keith Whalen, president of the Anne Arundel Professional Fire Fighters Local 1563. “This day means a lot to us — it’s insulting.”
Cox said the department asked for the commission to draft the opinion after it was asked to participate in 2013. The department will frequently ask the commission to write opinions when approached from such requests from private businesses, Cox said.
“Basically what they said was that county ethics law does not allow county apparatus to be used for the purposes of a private business,” Cox said. “This event — even though it’s honoring veterans, police officers and firefighters for 9/11 — it’s still a private business.”
He said, “That’s how they rule and we abide by it.”
After the department decided not to participate in the event last year, it asked the county volunteer companies to take part in its absence, Cox said.
A number of volunteer companies from outside the county participated in last year’s event, Whalen said. However, he noted that while volunteer companies may own their own engines, they still receive support from county taxpayers.
“There’s no separation (between) volunteers and county firefighters,” Whalen said. “It’s just insulting that we wouldn’t embrace anything that supports that day and supports fire personnel.”
Bill Krauss, co-founder of the Glen Burnie-based chain, declined to comment on the controversy.
“Sept. 11th is one of our busiest days, but far more importantly it is day of remembrance,” he said. “We are now 13 years removed and will never forget the brave souls we lost on that tragic day.”
Each of the company’s 10 locations will hold a ceremony at noon on Thursday, with a local first-responder singing the National Anthem. All law enforcement, firefighters and EMS can get a free turkey, pork and brisket sandwich. Cox said firefighters could accept a sandwich, as long as they are off duty.
The company will sell “9-11 Never Forget American Heroes Cups” in remembrance of the victims of the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. For the next month, $2 from each $3.99 cup sold will be donated to local police and fire charities. The company projected it would raise more than $50,000.
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(c)2014 The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)
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