Veterans upset at McDonald's half-staff flags
 

Veterans upset at McDonald's half-staff flags

By Scott McCabe, Palm Beach Post Staff hahahahahar
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localne...ee115002f.html

McDonald's Chairman and CEO Jim Cantalupo may have introduced the McGriddle and the Adult Happy Meal, but he doesn't deserve to have the American flag fly half-staff following his unexpected death Monday, veteran groups say.

Cantalupo died Monday at age 60 after suffering a heart attack in Orlando, where McDonald's was holding its international franchisees' convention.

Officials at American Legion posts around Palm Beach County said they were inundated with angry complaints from people who saw flags flying at half-staff at area McDonald's restaurants.

John Gandy of West Palm Beach, whose father was killed during the first Gulf War, said he called McDonald's corporate headquarters in Chicago and was told the hamburger chain was flying their flags half-staff at restaurants nationwide on Monday, but would return them to full-staff today.

Officials could not be reached at corporate headquarters late Monday.

Gayle Hale, president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 207 in West Palm Beach, said Cantalupo's death was a tragedy, but the company's response was wrong. "It's a slap in the face to veterans everywhere," Hale said. "We don't put the flag down for the kids who are dying overseas, we damn sure don't put it down just because he was the CEO."

American flags should be flown half-staff when the nation is in mourning, as proclaimed either by the president for national remembrance, or the governor of a state or territory for local remembrance. Federal government officials may also order that the flag be flown half-staff on buildings, grounds and naval vessels under their jurisdiction.

The president may order the flag to be flown half-staff to mark the death of other officials, former officials or foreign dignitaries. In addition, the president may order half-staff display of the flag after tragic events, such as 9/11.

That McDonald's convention is one of the coolest conventions I've ever been to. One of my father's clients makes the Register computers, so he goes down every year. They actually build a fully operation McDonald's in the middle of the convention floor and for the 5 or so days the show is running it's free food for everyone.

someone at mcdonalds is an idiot

Well the vets are right, it is proper flag etiquette. Why don't they just put the red and yellow McDonalds flag at half-staff?

yes that would be appropriate, but not the american flag

That dudes family must feel like shit though. All this controversey over a gesture that was supposed to show respect to this dead guy.

Personally, I think you should be able to do whatever the fuck you want with your own flag. McDonalds didn't tell any of us we had to fly our flags at half staff.

i dunno. flag etiquette has some pretty large grey areas. With all due respect, Veterans like to bitch about a lot of stuff. Yes, they have the right, but a good chunk of them would cry if most liberal congressmen/women were to have a flag lowered in their honor. Anyway,

"In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law."

Even though it isn't a gorvernment official, McDonald's CEO, is a notable individual.

And despite the fact that the congress passed these "rules" or customs and probably should be considered a law... I don't know if they would ever hold up to Constitutional scrutiny... as they prevent people from making bumper stickers, flag burning, etc... which are rights protected... by the First Amendment

As long as you're respecting the Flag - I don't have a problem with the way people do it. And if you're disrepecting it, I have to tolerate it.