To the editor,

In a recent letter to the editor of the Phoenix, a “disturbed” Anne Marie Silvia of Bristol denounced the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, that has honored 26 Bristolians from its founder Nathaniel Byfield to General Michael Byrnes, its most recent inductee, for “secretly” inducting Lt. General Michael Flynn, a Middletown native.

Apparently, Ms. Silvia has not informed herself of the fact that the Russian collaboration story has been proven to be a political hoax created by the democrats to undermine the Trump administration. She should stay tuned as some of those who waged political lawfare against Trump and Flynn are indicted and tried for their crimes, starting with James Comey and John Brennan.

General Flynn pleaded guilty to one count of having lied to the FBI during a mere conversation (not an interrogation) where he was not advised of his right to counsel because the inquiry was merely part of the unfounded partisan political hoax based upon the non-existent Trump administration’s “Russian Collusion.”

In addition, the plea was extracted from Flynn after prosecutors threatened to indict his son who was his partner in an unrelated business venture. Later Flynn moved to withdraw the plea and the charge was dropped in 2020 by the Department of Justice after President Trump pardoned Flynn. In response, the general questioned the pardon on the grounds that he had committed no crime. Trump styled his order as an “Executive Grant of Clemency” because Flynn was innocent of a crime and should never have been prosecuted.

It is probable that Flynn became an early target of the hoax because of his difficulties with President Obama, who had appointed Flynn as the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2012. Flynn clashed with the Obama administration over its counterterrorism policies, especially the failure to eliminate ISIS in Iraq. Flynn was removed from his position in 2014, retired from the Army, and later advised Trump on the ISIS problem. Flynn’s advice and that of others allowed Trump to destroy ISIS in Iraq within a matter of weeks.

We would ask Ms. Silvia if this scenario is sufficient to ruin Flynn’s distinguished military career and deny him the honor conferred upon him by the Hall of Fame? General Flynn’s ardent public conduct after that ordeal has been motivated by the resentment he feels for the ignominy he has unjustly endured.

As to the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, on which we have voluntarily served for over two decades, it is a private educational, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It is run and funded by donors and its volunteer directors, all of whom are prominent civic leaders knowledgeable about Rhode Island and its proud history.

The Hall of Fame inducted Flynn “quietly” because to do so in a public ceremony would induce paid protesters to join with random uniformed and partisan people, such as the letter writer, to disrupt the induction ceremony to the detriment of the other inductees in our annual class of nine honorees.

The Hall of Fame neither solicits or receives public funds, although its publications, its programs, and its website are open to and shared with the public. This is the “transparency” that Ms. Silvia demands. We demand only tolerance. It is the perfect antidote to her alleged “disturbance.”

Dr. Patrick T. Conley, President Emeritus of the Rhode Island Heritage of Fame
Gail Cahalan-Conley, Chairlady Emerita of the Hall of Fame Advisory Council
Bristol