Draft-dodger project makes some nervous

Reaction of U.S. veterans to a proposed Canadian memorial to Vietnam War draft dodgers has been so intense that leaders in Nelson, B.C., have distanced themselves from the project, the mayor of the town just north of the border said Tuesday.

The Nelson City Council on Monday passed a resolution to buy newspaper advertising saying it was not involved with the proposed memorial, which is a private venture.

Mayor Dave Elliott said he has received a flood of e-mail and telephone calls since he attended a Sept. 7 press conference announcing the memorial in his lakeside community.

There are threats of boycotts by people in the Spokane area, which Nelson counts on for ski tourism in the winter. Veterans of Foreign Wars has called on President Bush and Congress to pressure Canada to stop the project.