Patriotic helmet needs to go, Newton Fire Chief says

[NewEngland4Obama]

Patriotic helmet needs to go, Newton Fire Chief says
Email|Link|Comments (31) Posted December 16, 2008 07:11 PM
By Ben Terris, Globe Correspondent

A veteran of the Iraq War, Richard Busa is used to fighting for the American flag. But never quite like this.

After more than three years of rushing into fires with his signature red, white and blue helmet, the Newton firefighter has been told to paint it black. Newton Fire Chief Joseph LaCroix wants the patriotic decoration gone, saying it does not conform to the department's rules.

LaCroix, himself a veteran of the Vietnam War, said that his decision has nothing to do with the flag, but with how he wants his department to conduct business.


John Bohn/Globe Staff

"We run a quasi-military operation here," LaCroix said in an interview yesterday. "You think people in the Marine Corps wake up for drills and say, 'I think I'm going to wear this shirt today even though everyone else is wearing that one'? Of course not."

Busa, 32, who has been in the department for seven years, decorated the helmet with heat resistant paint, the same type used on automobiles and grills, and it has refused to fade after numerous fires. He said he checked departmental rules before painting it, and found no prohibition against decorating the helmet.
More....
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/regional_editions/globe_west/west/2008/12/patriotic_helme.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. The chief is right,

if the firefighter wants to wear the flag, that is what the shirt is for

[w4rma]

2. The chief should allow him to buy a new helmet, rather than painting that one. (nt)

[TahitiNut]

3. Well, the U.S. Flag Code prohibits using the flag as clothing.

:shrug:

[silverojo]

4. If, as the firefighter found, there are no rules against it

The chief should just STFU. Black helmets are stupid, anyway--who can see black through thick smoke?

Most firemen I've seen have brightly-colored helmets for safety's sake. I think the chief is just trying to be an asshole...and succeeding.