A South Carolina sheriff said in a Facebook post that he would not lower his American flag for South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday, because he was not an American.
President Obama has issued an executive order to have all American flags lowered in remembrance of the former South African president.
I usually don’t post political items, but today is different,” wrote Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark, Fox Carolina reported. “I received this notification today, ’As a mark of respect for the memory of Nelson Mandela, the President orders that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff effective immediately until sunset, December 9, 2013.’
“Nelson Mandela did great things for his country and was a brave man but he was not an AMERICAN!!! The flag should be lowered at our Embassy in S. Africa, but not here. Our flag is at half staff today for a Deputy in the low country who died going to help his fellow Deputy. He deserves the honor. I have ordered that the flag here at my office back up after tomorrow’s mourning of Pearl Harbor Day!” he said.
There is no penalty for refusal to comply with the executive order.
“I think it’s great in America we can disagree,” Sheriff Clark told Fox.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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