Since December, employees at Litchfield Town Hall have received nearly 200 phone calls and letters from people in other states upset by the yellow ribbon ban passed by Litchfield Borough burgesses.  The issue is especially galling for First Selectman Leo Paul, Jr., who retired from the U. S. Air Force after more than 20 years of active duty.

“The town and residents of Litchfield are getting a black eye over this which is not warranted,” Paul said Friday.  “I’ve never spoken to anyone who does not support the troops.”

He urged the borough burgesses and residents “to please come up with a compromise, because we can’t continue down this path.”

Borough officials will hold a public hearing on ways to honor military service Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Meeting House of the First Congregational Church of Litchfield.

The hearing was called in response to a public outcry after burgesses voted Dec. 1 to forbid the placement of ribbons, bows, or similar items anywhere on the Litchfield green.  Yellow ribbons have been placed on the green since 2003 to honor residents serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After the vote, Paul said his office received “two full days of phone calls,” plus letters, emails, and faxes.  They came from Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.  Town Clerk Lisa Losee said her office also received calls from all over the country.

“It’s just now beginning to fall off a bit,” said Paul.  “I suspect it will increase after the Feb. 2 meeting, depending on what happens there.”

Paul developed a form letter to respond to ribbon complaints.  It explains there are separate forms of government for the borough and the town, and the borough is responsible for the Litchfield green.

“The issue of displaying yellow ribbons on the Green has been not a matter of patriotism but rather a matter of a disagreement between citizens and the Borough Board as to how to display support for troops on the Green,” the letter states. 

Paul refers those who “wish to discuss this with the proper party” to Borough Warden Lee Losee at (860)567-5260.  That is Losee’s home number, not the borough office. 

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