ANNISTON, Alabama - October 12, 2011 - Officials with the parent company of Olive Garden restaurants say they’re sorry if a decision regarding an Alabama Kiwanis club’s desire to display the American flag caused any concern.
The comments come after 80-year-old Marti Warren of Anniston said she wasn’t allowed to bring an American flag into an Olive Garden for a planned Kiwanis Club banquet in the east Alabama town of Oxford.
Warren tells WBRC-TV that she learned the night of the banquet that she wouldn’t be allowed to display the flag or the Kiwanis banner in the restaurant.
Orlando-based parent firm Darden restaurants said in a statement that the Oxford Olive Garden lacks a private dining area, and is unable to accommodate flags or banners of any type to avoid disrupting the experience of other guests.
The restaurants included in the flag ban are:
Olive Gardens
Red Lobster
Capitol Grille
Long Horn Steak House
Contact Darden Restaurants and let them know that the American Flag goes where you go! https://www.olivegarden.com/About-Us/Contact-Us/