Olive Garden parent company responds after Oxford restaurant refused to allow American flag in dining area

Published: Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 11:18 AM

ANNISTON, Alabama — 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.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2011/10/olive_g ... ny_re.html