Posted on 01/28/2009 11:13:11 AM PST by SERKIT
(CNN) -- An Ohio man who was suspended as the drum major of a band for giving President Obama a nod during last week's inaugural parade is calling it quits. John Coleman resigned from the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes & Drums a week after the parade in Washington. Publicity about his suspension had gotten to be too much, he told CNN affiliate WEWS.
"It's come to a point where I don't want embarrassment anymore between the pipe band and myself," Coleman, who is a firefighter, told WEWS on Tuesday.
Coleman was seen during the nationally televised January 20 parade nodding toward the new president while marching with the band. A few steps later, he appeared to wave briefly.
He told WEWS that as the band was marching past the grandstand where Obama was sitting, he made eye contact with the president.
"Contact was made with our eyes both together and he smiled and waved at the band," he told the station. "And just as a gesture, I nodded my head. I gave him a slight wave and went on."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Oh, I feel so sorry the drum major. BABY.
He would've turned to stone anyway.
The band over-reacted on this. I appreciate their desire for military precision but they are not the military and the gent acknowledged the President. Not doing so would have been rude.
Sounds like something under Stalin, Chavez or Castro. I did not read the story. Was he a Obot who fawns over the Ober Mullah Furher?
Poor Democrat baby. I really feel sorry for him. /sarc
Or a pillar of salt.
Given the groveling lately I’m amazed he wasn’t flogged.
Rules are rules. It’s a private organization, and if they have rules about breaking formation and he broke formation, he is subject to whatever legal discipline the organization wants to mete out. Do I think it’s a bit silly? Yeah, but I didn’t join. He did. See Rule 1 above.
Colonel, USAFR
Too bad 0’bummer doesn’t quit for being nodded at.
Yeah, if it were the PICCOLO player that winked or nodded, I can see it, but he was the LEADER of the band, and ‘in behalf of all of them’ he was recognizing a new leader of the land. Go figure. Wearing skirts probably after so many years has turned them into girlys.
I seem to recall that many years ago the NY Daily News had a front page photo of a NYARNG soldier in formation in the St Patrick Day Parade tipping his helmet to the Mayor. I don’t think he quit, nor do I recall any followups as to what disciplinary action was taken. Geeez, Joe Stalin waved at this marchers and I believe they waved at him. Hillary? as President? “Eyes left”!! would be the order.
I don’t get it. As the drum major, it’s no big deal as far as I can see. If the band as a group did not think Obama should be honored at the inaguration, they shouldn’t have gone to begin with.
I’m surprised that anyone thinks the band can’t have or enforce rules. He wasn’t tossed out, he was suspended. Then, he quite. If one is not willing to follow the rules, one should not join an organization. He sounds like an “I’ll take my toys and go home” sort.
I want that hat ....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.