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Drum Major Suspended for Nodding at Obama

Member of Cleveland firefighters' group violated 'protocol and proper decorum'

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 26, 2009 4:00 PM CST
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(Newser) – A Cleveland man who marched as drum major with a firefighters band in last week’s inaugural parade has been suspended for a nod and a wave he gave to President Obama, the Plain Dealer reports. “This was a military parade. Protocol and proper decorum had to be followed at all times,” the bandleader said. John Coleman sees it differently. “I was just acknowledging the president, who was acknowledging our band.”

A US Military Honor guard marches during the inaugural parade.
A US Military Honor guard marches during the inaugural parade.   (AP Photo)
Various flag are waved during the inaugural parade for President Barack Obama.
Various flag are waved during the inaugural parade for President Barack Obama.   (AP Photo)
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as they walk the inaugural parade route in Washington..
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as they walk the inaugural parade route in Washington..   (AP Photo)
President Obama waves during the inaugural parade.
President Obama waves during the inaugural parade.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
inky
Jan 27, 2009 6:42 AM CST
Oh bu-ruther. This was probably the highlight of the drum major's life. Protocol, shmotocol.
riffran
Jan 27, 2009 6:32 AM CST
It's called action and consequence.....He broke protocol with his actions (waving) and disrupted the continuity of the march, and it's professionalism, and the formality inherent in such activities. He forgot his professionalism. The consequence was he got canned....Now if it was worth it, that's up to the dude who is feeling the results of his actions.....I can just see the reaction, if I was in a formal parade while I was in the Military and I did something stupid like that......not good not goood
Guest
Jan 27, 2009 3:54 AM CST
What it comes down to is the man could have taken a bayonet off of one of those rifles and viciously attacked an innocent person near him. As long as "The Big O" didn't disapprove, this would become acceptable behavior to the mainstream media. People wonder how a nation of good people end up following a madman into the darkest deep abyss of human behavior and act like there is absolutely nothing wrong with what they are doing. This is how it started some time ago, lets hope history does not repeat itself.

Video of the offending gesture
YouTube

US • Politics

 
firefighters • suspension • protocol • marching band • President Obama • Inauguration Day • inaugural parade • drum major • wave • nod

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