Ross couple: Help no longer wanted by science center

A Ross couple whose small American flag was removed from their work station at Carnegie Science Center said yesterday that they no longer are welcome there as volunteers.

Claire and John Miller of Ross became upset last month when Carnegie officials removed the flag from the information desk because it violated the organization's policy against workers having personal items in public areas.

Claire Miller said the science center since reneged on its offer for the couple to continue volunteering, made during a radio interview after the Tribune-Review wrote about the incident.

"After a short vacation, John and I went back on Wednesday because that was our regular day to volunteer," said Claire Miller, 78. "We put our uniforms on and were ready to work, but were told that we needed to go to a meeting downstairs."

Miller said science center administrators chided the couple for not contacting them before alerting the newspaper.

"I told them that I tried to contact them repeatedly, but nobody responded so we went further," said Miller, whose husband is a World War II Navy veteran. "They were angry with us, and asked how we could have the nerve to do what we did.

"Then they told us that if we can't abide by their rules, then we were not welcome and escorted us to our car."

Susan Zimecki, the science center's director of marketing, said the Millers' account "really is a misrepresentation."

"They were repeatedly told they were not being asked to leave," she said. "They got up and left on their own."

Zimecki noted that a large American flag flies outside the North Shore building, and a flag was placed in the building's lobby "in response to the many, many comments we received" after the story.