[HOZ]

Retired Major-General Lewis MacKenzie has his say on the flag lowering and media ban. Agrees with one and disagrees withthe other.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...eRequested=all

Gen. Lewis MacKenzie: I certainly see the argument, appreciate the concern and respect the intent. However, as the veterans organizations have pointed out, it is important to treat the deaths of all those who voluntarily accept unlimited liability when they join the Armed Forces equally and that is done eloquently on the 11th of November. In fact, I'm pleased to see that the attention paid to Remembrance Day is expanding every year.
I don't believe you are quite accurate regarding the flag protocol regarding federal buildings — for MPs and Senators the flags are only lowered in the riding of an MP and the residence of a Senator.
In the case of fallen soldiers, the flag is lowered at National Defence Headquarters and at the Canadian Forces Bases where the soldiers were stationed prior to deployment and in the villages, towns and cities where the soldiers had an association at the discretion of the local political leadership.


Allan Lougheed, Oakville, Ont.: General MacKenzie: What do you think of the government's decision to ban the media from today's repatriation of four soldiers? To me, this takes us back to the 90's when there was virtually no coverage of soldiers killed in operations.
Gen. Lewis MacKenzie: I don't like it. There is an old rule in the military — never give an order you can't enforce. The media will be there filming from outside the gate the arrival/departure of families, VIPs etc. and the ban will become the lead story — what a shame!