he can lower his state flag if he wants to cause it belongs to NJ, but... the Stars and Stripes does NOT!!! dumb move
Posted on 02/18/2012 5:40:00 PM PST by smoothsailing
NJLawman.com-Police and Law Enforcement News
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Yesterday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered all New Jersey State and American flags to be lowered to half staff on Saturday in honor of Entertainer Whitney Houston who passed away this week.
Last year, the governor did the same for Clarence Clemmons, the saxophone player for the E Street Band.
In January, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett ordered the state flag to half staff for three days in honor of Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno when he passed.
We take great issue with this practice.
Ms. Houston and Mr. Clemmons are both children of our great state and were both wildly successful. Each has made a significant contribution to music, culture, and the arts, and both are deserving of many accolades.
But just as an American serviceman killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan is not deserving of a Grammy award, musicians and celebrities are not deserving of the lowering of the American flag.
Simply, not everybody gets every honor.
There are few gestures as symbolic and as loud as an entire state lowering their flags at the same moment for the same amount of time.
Seeing a flag at the half staff position should spawn pause and thought. It should make one a bit unsettled but at the same time thankful. It should make one ask, "what happened?"
A flag at half staff gives publicity to courage and nobility otherwise only mildly publicized. For one day, it is an inescapable message announcing to an entire state that tragedy occurred and reminding everyone that the fruits of each free day come with a price.
Expanding this honor only diminishes its meaning and raises the question: where does it end?
Between Ms. Houston and Mr. Clemmons, entire rooms could be filled with the distinctions they have each received throughout their lives.
In the coming months and years they will continue to be given well deserved recognition for their accomplishments.
But there are certain honors that should and must be set aside.
Rifle salutes, aircraft flyovers, and half-staffed flags are among those honors and they should not be on the public menu.
It is eminently important that we protect the tributes that have become part of the military and public service fabric over the past two centuries. They are part of our tradition and should not be for sale at any price. They should not be available to take, and they should not be available to give.
The manner in which we lay the valorous when they fall helps define how we should carry ourselves while we live.
Lowering the flag to half staff should be reserved only for those who perish as a result of public duty and service, protecting our nation and the Constitution, and for those who served as formal leaders and dignitaries.
This practice must stop.
he can lower his state flag if he wants to cause it belongs to NJ, but... the Stars and Stripes does NOT!!! dumb move
Really? Twenty posts and counting. Does that tell you that some of us are interested??
*Private citizens and non government buildings may choose to fly their flags at half staff to honor more local leaders. The Flag Code does not exclude any citizen, whether they belong to an organization or not, whether they are recognized very locally or regionally. Examples of deceased citizens that might be honored with by lowering the Flag to half-staff include local religious leaders, youth leaders, honored teachers or sports coaches, local politicians, or a local hero. There need be no authorization from the government for the private sector (non-government) to use the Flag to honor any citizen.
*It is important to note that the Flag Code is a code, it is intended to provide guidance and is not obligatory. It carries no civil or criminal penalties for "misuse" of the Flag. Individual are not acting illegally when using the Flag according to their own usage. Only on government / public building is the flag code required to be followed.
Read more: http://www.gettysburgflag.com/FlyFlagHalfMast.php#ixzz1mmvgacf3
I couldn’t agree more with the editorial.
There are people in every profession that do an outstanding job of whatever they do, that doesn’t mean they deserve to have the U.S. Flag lowered to half staff to honor them in death.
Old Glory is a symbol of freedom and patriotism, let those be honored by lowering Her to half staff that have sacrificed for those virtues.
Clarence Clemens of the E Street Band
I don’t even know who he was. What exceptional thing did he do for his country?
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The only way a Governor can force the flag to be flown at half-staff is by dying.
Something we here in Illinois have been known to wish for!
1989, Houston formed The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, a non-profit organization that has raised funds for the needs of children around the world. The organization cares for homelessness, children with cancer or AIDS, and other issues of self-empowerment.
[1991, Houston put together her Welcome Home Heroes concert with HBO for the soldiers fighting in the Persian Gulf War and their families. The free concert took place at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia in front of 3,500 servicemen and women. HBO descrambled the concert so that it was free for everyone to watch.[90] Houston's concert gave HBO its highest ratings ever
1990, Houston was the spokesperson for a youth leadership conference hosted in Washington, D.C. She had a private audience with President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office to discuss the associated challenges.
[WIKI]
Give it a rest.
Perhaps it is to honor one of your state’s fallen service men or women.
In our state of Michigan, whenever a person from our state is killed in combat, the flag is lowered to half staff. The Governor orders the flag moved. It is on our state’s website listed as “Half-Staff Flag Alerts.” It is law put into effect in our state in 2006. Given the number of wars/conflicts/battles going on maybe it’s not so unusual for the flags to seem to be lowered so often.
Agree, smooth.
With due respect, suggest you reconsider that comment in light of the words of the National Anthem, and the thousands who have died with those words in mind.
As a former Federal prosecutor I should think this fat-ass, Lou Costello look-alike f**king RINO governor of my state would be looking into where and from whom Ms. Houston got her crack from.
Love the folks who care enough to post that they don’t care and YOU shouldn’t care to post that you DO care.
Thanks for caring!
(and bumping to the top!)
BTW, I've saved several lives from certain death over the years. Did heroic work to save them.
They regularly lower flags for people with fewer accomplishments ~ administrative types in fact.
I don't begrudge anybody a lowered flag when they're dead.
This jealousy so many here are displaying of THE DEAD is bizarre. You can take yourself there in moments if you wish. See if anybody cares.
Not a peep of complaint when Frank Sanatra was given the flag at half mast. I think Christie can do as he choses in his state. Wait until Bruce Springsteen drops...it will be flag at half mast for a year.
Yes, there are vets in this particular cemetary. I just assume this is why the flag is at half staff 24/7 360 days a year.
Who knows? I’ve even asked our council and they all look dumbfounded!
From the Nov.-Dec. 1994 National Flag Foundations "Standard Bearer" Magazine.
This article remains the copyrighted material of the National Flag Foundation and is presented here by permission.
Flying the flag at half-staff is an area of flag etiquette that most people want to make sure they get right. It is also an area for which the road to error is routinely paved with good intentions. With that in mind, we offer this refresher course as the all-important intersection where knowledge meets benevolence.
FLYING THE FLAG AT HALF-STAFF: The pertinent section of the Flag Code says, "by order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possesion, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.
In the event of the death a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that state, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff." The code also includes other related details including the specific length of time during which the flag should be displayed at half-staff, in the event of the death of a "principal figure"(e.g., 30 days for the death of a sitting or former President, 10 days for the death of a sitting Vice-President,etc.).
GOOD-FAITH MISUNDERSTANDINGS: Although the code is actually pretty clear, confusion continues to occur. For example, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno recently ordered the American Flag flown at half-staff on all U.S. Department of Justice buildings, in honor of several DEA agents who had died. While NFF understands this gesture, the Flag Code does not give Attorney General Reno the authority to issue that order. Closer to NFF's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania home, Mayor Tom Murphy ordered all flags flown at half-staff to honor the victims of a plane crash. Here again, a well-intentioned gesture, but one for which no authority exists. NFF points out these "good-faith misunderstandings" not to criticize or embarrass anyone, but rather to head off a growing trivialization of this memorial salute, and to preserve the dignity and significance of flying the U.S. flag at half-staff. To any readers who may think that NFF is insensitive for raising these breaches of etiquette, please be assured that our motives are pure. We grieve these human loses deeply; however, we believe proper respect for our flag must be maintained - no matter the circumstances.
I am reminded that her rendition of our National Anthem for the Super Bowl was among the best at a time when it was needed, the Gulf War. This, in my mind, may be a solid reason. I, however, missed it as I was a very busy Marine SSgt. doing my duty in Desert Shield / Desert Storm.
I am reminded that her rendition of our National Anthem for the Super Bowl was among the best at a time when it was needed, the Gulf War. This, in my mind, may be a solid reason. I, however, missed it as I was a very busy Marine SSgt. doing my duty in Desert Shield / Desert Storm.
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