A South Carolina Sheriff is defying President Barack Obama’s order to lower flags to half-staff as a tribute to South African leader Nelson Mandela.
Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark said he was defying Obama’s order because he thinks the honor of lowering flags should be reserved for fallen Americans.
“It’s just my simple opinion that the flag should only be lowered to half-staff for Americans who sacrificed for their country,” Clark told CNN affiliate WHNS.
On Saturday his department’s flag was lowered for the 72nd anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, but Pickens said he’d have it back up Sunday morning. Obama ordered the flags to remain at half-staff until Monday evening.
CNN noted in their report that former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton both ordered the lowering of the flags for foreigners.
