Despite legal threat, Portsmouth to keep new Veterans Honor Roll

They bribed you with a TV to change a policy that’s not supposed to be changed.”

David L. Crow, U.S. Army war veteran

PORTSMOUTH — Despite a threat of legal action by a local resident, the town will go forward with plans to use a new digital Veterans Honor Roll system in the lobby of Town Hall.

The Town Council Monday night heard from U.S. Army veteran David L. Crow, who accused the council of accepting a bribe when it agreed to expand eligibility for the honor roll and use a multimedia database that residents will be able to view on a large-screen TV just outside the council chambers. A ceremony to dedicate the new honor roll is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 20.

The council had earlier accepted the recommendations by the Veterans Honor Roll Committee, which proposed revisions in eligibility and held fund-raisers to buy the TV and other equipment.

Under the old rules, for someone to be eligible for the honor roll they had to be a Portsmouth resident at the time they entered the military. Under the new rules, those same people are still eligible, but so are any veterans who served honorably and have lived in Portsmouth for at least 10 years. 

That didn’t go over well with Mr. Crow, who previously warned the council that it shouldn’t mess with tradition. Even his own father, who was a veteran and lived in Portsmouth for 45 years, has no business being on the honor roll because he wasn’t a resident when he entered service, he said.

As for the new multimedia display? “They bribed you with a TV to change a policy that’s not supposed to be changed. And yes, you were bribed, which is illegal,” Mr. Crow told the council. “The TV thing is not going to be called an honor roll. There’s no honor in that.”

He gave the council two options: The new system must go, or the council will have to explain itself to a judge.

“What is it going to be? Or, I’ll see you in court,” Mr. Crow said. 

Council President Keith Hamilton replied that he didn’t respond well to threats.

“It’s not a threat,” Mr. Crow shot back. “I tried to resolve this in a nice way.”

Mr. Crow also took issue with the current location of the original honor roll, which used to be in the Town Hall lobby but is now inside the Town Council chambers. The display was moved there because a security review of Town Hall concluded that the window for the tax office should be moved around the corner to the original honor roll’s former spot.

“This is disrespectful, hiding our war dead,” Mr. Crow said. “This is despicable and a disgrace. See you in court.”

Panel defends action

Mr. Crow then left the building, and didn’t hear members of the Veterans Honor Roll Committee defend the new display and eligibility rules. Members said all local veterans organizations, such as the VFW, American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America and the Elks Club, support the changes.

VFW member Carlton Johnson, a member of the honor roll panel, said the group discussed the original rules and determined that limiting the display to people who were Portsmouth residents when they entered the military was “restrictive,” and that other municipalities have adopted similar rules.

Under the old rules, Mr. Johnson said, honor roll panel member Michael Nott’s father — a World War II veteran who lived in Portsmouth for 60 years — would not be eligible for the honor roll.

“I’m sorry it has come to this,” added Carolyn Evans-Carbery, a member of the honor roll committee.

However, she made no apologies for using technology to honor more veterans and telling their stories to future generations in a multimedia format. Portsmouth is the first municipality in Rhode Island to have such a digital database for its veterans, she said.

“If I had my way, every veteran needs to be honored in every shape, way and form and go into the database,” said Ms. Evans-Carbery, adding that she’s received 107 applications from people who have suggested names for the new honor roll.

She also noted that the committee raised $4,000 to pay for the equipment so that no tax dollars would be spent.

David Gleason was one of several Town Council members who said he liked the new digital system because he believed that more veterans with ties to Portsmouth should be honored.

“I never felt that I accepted a bribe in anyway with the TV set. I’ve behind you folks,” Mr. Gleason said.

Location questioned

Some council members did agree with Mr. Crow’s statement, however, that the original honor roll shouldn’t be “hidden” inside council chambers.

“I believe it was better served in the lobby,” said council member Elizabeth Pedro, adding that most other towns also display their honor rolls prominently.

Local resident Peter Roberts, a Vietnam veteran, said he likes the TV but also thinks the original honor roll belongs in the lobby. “That’s the old wall and there’s a lot behind that wall,” he said.

Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. agreed to explore a new location in the lobby for the original honor roll and report back to the council.