As a career firefighter, Westmont Fire Chief Frank Trout is used to being on the hot seat.
But he could be in hot water after he made comments at the village of Westmont Memorial Day ceremony that some in attendance considered to be inappropriate, according to a local Democratic Party group.
Trout, a veteran of the Vietnam War, served as the grand marshall of the Memorial Day Parade and gave a speech during the ceremony afterwards, said Westmont Park District Director Ron Gunter, who co-organized the event.
In a statement released by the Downers Grove Township Democratic Organization, backed by several people at the event, Trout was criticized for the speech, where he allegedly compared the nation, under President Barack Obama, to a socialist state, and spoke out against the United Nations, single mothers and gay citizens.
Trout declined to release notes from his speech to the Westmont Progress but indicated he said nothing wrong.
“I had numerous people come up to me saying they supported what I said,” Trout said. “I come from a different generation, and the only negative thing I said was to those who I feel are bring this county down.”
He added by saying most of the negative feedback has been from local Democrats, which he believes is a “partisan attack.”
Village Manager Ron Searl said he had some complaints, but declined to comment. Searl said he was not sure what was said by Trout during the speech.
A statement released by the organization condemned Trout’s comments.
“Westmont Fire Chief Frank Trout dishonored the service of fallen men and women by politicizing the village’s annual Memorial Day celebration,” the statement read. “While he made it clear that he was not acting in his role as fire chief, but as a veteran, his inappropriate comments offended many in the audience as they were intended as attacks on people who do not subscribe to conservative beliefs.”
Mark Garrity of Downers Grove, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for Downers Grove Township supervisor in April, was in attendance and heard Trout’s comments. Garrity said Trout’s comments would be more welcome, at “a right-wing extremist militia camp out in the forests of Idaho somewhere” and were not appropriate for a Memorial Day ceremony.
“His comments wouldn't even have been appropriate for a Republican political rally let alone a public Memorial Day service in Westmont,” Garrity said.
Julie Ranahan of Hinsdale was also present at the event, and agreed the topic was not appropriate for the occasion.
“That is the wrong time and place to pontificate like that,” she said.
Village Trustee Susan Senicka, who represented the Westmont Village Board at the event because Mayor Bill Rahn was out of the state, defended the right to free speech. She said Trout was not speaking as the fire chief, but as a citizen and a war veteran.
“He has a right to say how he feels,” Senicka said. “But whether this was the right forum or not, that I cannot answer right now.”
Senicka also said Memorial Day should not be a day about politics, and that she feels some members of local Democratic organizations were using the event to “stump for votes.”
