American Canyon’s sign in support of U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan has drawn all kinds of attention lately, but not the kind supporters envisioned when they first placed the sign alongside Highway 29 five years ago.

City officials in April decided they would move the sign from the corner of Donaldson Way and Highway 29 to City Hall, near Napa Junction Road. The city has yet to make the move.

But on Tuesday, American Canyon Troop Support leader Sindy Biederman, a military mom who urged the city put up the sign in 2004, accused city officials of planning to put the sign, which reads “The City of American Canyon Supports and Salutes our Troops,” into storage instead of displaying it at City Hall.

Biederman, whose organization sends care packages to troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, said she wanted know how long the sign was going to be down and why. “It means so much to the community,” a visibly frustrated Biederman said.

City officials assured Biederman the sign will be posted for the public to see, but could offer no firm dates for the dismantling, removal and rebuilding.

City Manager Rich Ramirez said the sign will be moved with city council approval “as soon as possible.”

The City Council decided to move the sign at the suggestion of a City Hall design review committee, a group that included Biederman and city councilmen Ed West and Don Callison.

West, whose son Phillip died in combat in Iraq in 2004, said the city has no intention of taking the sign down permanently. But, he said, “things need to be done properly.”

West also decried e-mails that claim he does not support the troops, noting his daughter, who is now in the U.S. Army, is about to be deployed.

Other speakers who came in support of Biederman included Brenda Knight, a Napa Valley College trustee, and Larry Boywitt of Vallejo and Al Donaldson of American Canyon, both of whom are Patriot Guard Riders. The grassroots nationwide organization forms honor guards at military funerals and to welcome U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The land where the sign is located belongs to Wilma “Dollie” Mikolajcik, a longtime city resident who once served with the U.S. Marines. She plans to sell the parcel eventually.

Tuesday’s discussion took place after American Canyon resident Steve Garcia told the City Council about a separate memorial he plans to honor U.S. troops.

Garcia is raising money to place a U.S. Marine flag at the Phillip West Aquatic Center on Benton Way, named after Ed West’s eldest son.

Garcia has found a local contractor who will place the 35-foot flag post in front of the aquatic center. The flagpole, which is expected to cost about $5,000, is scheduled to be dedicated on Memorial Day 2010.쇓