Did this former Marine sergeant do the patriotic thing when he lowered the American Flag on Memorial Day?

2016-06-07T00:41:52-04:00

I have a low opinion of any Americans that do not demonstrate even a modicum of proper respect to our Stars and Stripes. This proud warrior did, and, for doing so, he was fired from his job. Was he right or does his (now) former employer hold all the cards? What is your take on this latest "Freedom of Expression" collision between any citizen or veteran and someone or some business entity in America?

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 7 at 2016 12:43 AM

2016-06-07T00:43:29-04:00

Yes, but they should have already done it.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2016 12:46 AM

2016-06-07T00:46:39-04:00

Yes the Marine did the right thing. Time Warner was wrong and I will not support Time warner.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 7 at 2016 2:42 AM

2016-06-07T02:42:57-04:00

Stars and stripes. The stars and bars were the Confederate Battle Flag.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Jun 7 at 2016 6:48 AM

2016-06-07T06:48:19-04:00

No, he didn't.

I've been to many Memorial Day observances over the past 31 years, and they all have the same thing in common: the flag flies at half staff all morning; at noon the flag returns to full staff. This OUGHT to be basic knowledge.

By his own admission, this Marine lowered the flag at 2:30 in the afternoon, then lowered it again after it was raised back up. If it had been his flag, he'd have been "the knucklehead that don't know better". Instead, it was his employer's flag, and I get the feeling there was a lot of background conversation that didn't get reported but contributed to the decision.

Response by SGT James LeFebvre made Jun 7 at 2016 10:43 AM

2016-06-07T10:43:28-04:00

Actually, he was wrong. The flag code states the flag shall be at half staff until noon, then full staff until dusk. He lowered it at 1430, well after it had been raised back to full staff. He was not fired for that, but for later arguing with and cursing at the employer.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jun 7 at 2016 10:53 AM

2016-06-07T10:53:25-04:00

Missed the original article on this one but have to agree with those who say he erred if he took it upon himself to adjust the employer's flag w/o permission. Most businesses which fly flags get an email notification of when flags are to be lowered for special occasions - it's a service or an app of some sort so employees don't have to guess. In this case the employer may have already appropriately lowered/raised the flag. If not, the SM should have brought it to his supervisor's attention and let them be responsible. He would have done his duty to alert his civilian COC. By the same token I don't believe he should have been fired unless this was only one in a string of progressive discipline or bad acts by him which this incident broke the camel's back.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Jun 8 at 2016 4:10 AM

2016-06-08T04:10:17-04:00

I think he let his pride take over for his common sense. He was wrong since it was after noon when he attempted to lower the flag and he was also wrong to take matters into his own hands and lower a company owned flag. Good initiative, poor judgement on his part. Should he have been fired, well that is up to the company, personally I think a verbal counseling would have sufficed.