Cleveland firefighter suspended for winking at President Obama
January 27th, 2009 - 3:00 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Jan.27 (ANI): A Cleveland fire fighter band member John Colemans acknowledgement of President Barack Obamas wave during the inaugural parade, has not sat well with his superiors, and has landed him with a six week-long suspension.
“He waved and I just gave him a wave and a little nod and moved on,” claimed Coleman, a member of the Cleveland Firefighter’’s Memorial Pipes and Drums.
What may seem as a small patriotic gesture and also included what seemed like a wink - did not sit well with Coleman’’s superiors.
According to Politico, they made him face the music with a six-month suspension from his drum major duties.
“We had gone over and over time and again with everyone in the band that this was a military parade. Protocol and proper decorum had to be followed at all times,” bandleader Pipe Major Mike Engle told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
“Unfortunately, John chose to ignore that.”
Coleman insisted he abided by the rules.
“I was told it’’s a military parade and I”m not to salute the President and I did not salute,” he said. (ANI)
- Cleveland firefighter’s memorial pipes drums - Jan 29, 2009
- Two new Indian tunes at Beating Retreat this year - Jan 27, 2011
- After Carnival, Goa goes into Shigmo festivities - Mar 21, 2011
- Pipes 'n drums: Jammu jailbirds play a new tune - Mar 28, 2011
- Unite to face challenges, says governor - Jan 26, 2011
- Beating Retreat martial tunes enthral - Jan 29, 2011
- Allies display military might at Kuwait liberation parade - Feb 26, 2011
- 'Worth a lifetime,' say R-Day spectators - Jan 26, 2011
- IAF to showcase network centric operations on Republic Day - Jan 21, 2011
- UP celebrates Republic Day - Jan 26, 2012
- Jimmy Vivino Takes Over for Max Weinberg on Conan - Sep 28, 2010
- Irish pipers win 2010 World Pipe Band Championships - Aug 15, 2010
- Russia hosts spectacular 65th `V-Day' parade in Red Square - May 09, 2010
- Fusion music to debut at Beating Retreat - Jan 28, 2012
- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter rushed to Cleveland hospital - Sep 28, 2010
Tags: acknowledgement, band member, cleveland plain dealer, coleman, colemans, engle, fire fighter, inaugural parade, member john, military parade, music, nod, obama, patriotic gesture, pipe major, pipes and drums, proper decorum, protocol, superiors, wink
