Firefighter suspended for refusing to remove American flag from locker

CHESTER, Pa. - A Chester City firefighter is taking heat after he refused to take the American flag off of his locker, Myfoxphilly.com reported, and was suspended without pay.

James Krapf allegedly violated a department policy that states personal items can only be posted inside employee lockers when he stuck the flag on the outside. According to Myfoxphilly.com, the firefighters' union warned 11 others to remove personal items or face similar suspensions, all without pay.

The firefighter is trying to go back to work Friday night after being suspended without pay Thursday for refusing to take the flag sticker off his locker, Fox 29's Sharon Crowley reported.

James Krapf took a photo of his locker with the sticker on it at the Chester Fire Department's station, and he said he doesn't understand why his supervisor wants him to take it off. Krapf said he's patriotic and many American flags hang around the firehouse.

Krapf was suspended Thursday, and so far he's the only one who has been suspended. Krapf said he hoped to meet with the fire commissioner and the mayor to resolve the issue, though he still wants to be able to display an American flag.

"I shouldn't have to remove the flag of the country I believe in. I love my country," Krapf said. "I love my job. I love helping people. I've been doing this 11 years in the City of Chester, so this is something I love to do."

Fox 29 News tried to get answers directly from the fire commissioner Friday. He told a local newspaper banning all materials from locker doors was the simplest way to avoid bickering among the staff. So, rather than take charge of the situation and take a fucking stand against bullshittery and ass-hattery, the commish did what desk-riding bureaucrats do and just blanket-policy screwed the troops and then barred the doors.

When Crowley asked to talk with him, she got the run around, being repeatedly told he would be out to talk with her. Then, she was told he changed his mind and had no comment.

"Commissioner, hi. Can you tell us why you won't talk to us, because we've been out here all day?" Crowley asked.

"Yes, m'am, and I appreciate that," the commissioner said, as he rose from his desk during a cell phone call. "Thank you very much. We have no comment, and I think it's very rude that you barge into my office in the middle of a conversation."

What a dick. And, you know, when you look deeper into things, I’m not sure I can consider the American flag a personal possession in the context that it is the symbol of the entire nation and thus belongs to the entire nation once on display. So since it belongs to all of us, I’ll step up & give permission for Mister Krapft to continue being a patriot and a hero.

Commissioner James Johnson says “We wear the American flag on our uniform…it’s flying outside that station,” he said. “It is not about the American flag or patriotism.”

Then what’s it about? Perhaps it’s about making a blanket policy without thinking of what all it entailed, and having no way to back out of the shitpile you stepped in, because as the videos point out, this all started when a black firefighter posted up a cartoon on his locker about "black man has no free speech". And if the bosses come down on the black guy who says he has no free speech, then that just proves his point, right? So let's just make everyone take down everything to avoid looking racist instead of just telling one dude to knock it off. And when one dude finds a loophole to your new flawed policy, you have a shit fit?

And in a show of solidarity for his fellow firefighter, the firefighter who had put that cartoon up on his locker, Robert Butler, wore a knit cap with an upside-down American flag on it. He said he was not protesting the federal government but wore it “as the common meaning” of distress.

Remembering the Charleston 9

A year ago today, nine brave Charleston firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives while fighting a massive fire at the Sofa Superstore in West Ashley. A year later, the community is still stunned by what happened. A year later, families still grieve for their loved ones. A year later, friends still mourn the loss and cherish the memories of the fallen.

A year later, I salute The Charleston Nine.



Additionally, I also need to take a minute to salute some other people too. I have four friends who are firefighters as well, and while all the attention is turned towards those who were lost, and justifiably so, I want to tip my hat to my friends.

Volunteer Firefighter Rodney Murdaugh of the Islandton, SC Fire Department


Volunteer Firefighter Joey Ferneza of Colleton County, SC Fire Rescue

Volunteer Firefighter Gerald Brown of the St. Paul’s, SC Fire District

Fire Lieutenant Tommy McQuade of the Newington, NH Fire Department

You guys are our hometown heroes. When normal people run out of burning buildings, you guys run in. You don’t do it for the money. You don’t do it for recognition. You do it because it’s who you are and what you do, and I for one am glad that you do it.

Thanks, FDNY pipes & drums

New York bagpipe corps to join memorial to heroes
By Andy Paras, Warren Wise
The Post and Courier
Friday, June 22, 2007



The pipe and drum corps that played at each funeral for the 343 firefighters killed on 9/11 in New York will be called to duty today when the musicians play during a memorial service for the nine Charleston firefighters killed in Monday's furniture store blaze.

Thirty-five members of the New York City Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums bagpipe band took a 15-hour bus trip Thursday to be here for the 10 a.m. service. Band members are expected to be among 200 New York City firefighters at the memorial ceremony.

"In New York City, this is a significant part of the funeral," said Richard Fanning, a retired New York City deputy fire chief with more than 31 years of firefighting experience. " 'Amazing Grace' is played. The concluding tune as the hearses are led away is a traditional Irish pipe tune called 'Going Home.' ... We hope it will add some sense of comfort to the firefighters and their families."

Fanning, who now lives in Bluffton, is not part of the band but is working with the South Carolina State Firefighters Association to coordinate today's events.

"These disasters rip the hearts and souls out of fire departments," Fanning said. "It will be a long-lasting tragedy. It leaves holes in a lot of lives. It will take a lot of strength and a lot of support to keep everybody moving in a positive direction."

The New York firefighters tried to get flights to Charleston but could not make arrangements on short notice, so a North Charleston business executive paid for their trip.

"If they were willing to endure a 15-hour bus ride, the expense was an afterthought," said Grant Reeves, president of PBI Performance Products Inc. of North Charleston. The company makes a flame-retardant fiber used in the outer shell of firefighters' gear such as jackets, pants and hoods.

Nicholas Giordano Jr., who retired as a New York City firefighter a year after the 2001 attacks, said the Charleston and New York fire departments have ties going back nearly 30 years, when two 18-year-olds who wanted to join the Charleston department went to the Bronx to see how it was done.

Those two teens who went on calls with Giordano later became battalion chiefs in Charleston.

The relationship between the departments just grew, Giordano said. "There's always that brotherhood of firefighters. They were always there to help us out, and that's why we drove all the way down here to help them out."

Several Charleston firefighters went to New York to help after Giordano's station lost eight firefighters in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Giordano said New York firefighters have been visiting Myrtle Beach since 2002 for an annual golf outing. The Charleston firefighters cook the steaks.

He got to know Capt. Louis Mulkey, who died in Monday's blaze, and several others through the cookouts.

"It's just a big tragedy," Giordano said. "For Charleston, losing nine firefighters is tantamount to New York losing the large number we did."

New Mexico shows class too

Thanks, Governor Richardson.......

SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson today ordered flags to fly at half-staff to honor the nine South Carolina firefighters who were killed in the line of duty.

"Firefighters are trained to make the ultimate sacrifice -- to walk into the worst danger and to risk their lives without hesitation,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “Early this week, nine South Carolina firefighters ran into a burning building to protect the lives of their fellow citizens trapped inside. These firefighters taught us the true meaning of the words courage, honor, and duty."

"The citizens of New Mexico are grateful for the actions of these selfless heroes and it is with great sadness that we extend our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends that were left behind.”

In honor and mourning of the South Carolina Firefighters killed in the line of duty earlier this week, Governor Richardson ordered that all flags be flown at half-staff on Friday, June 22, 2007.

The text of the executive order follows:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2007-030


FLAGS FLOWN AT HALF STAFF IN HONOR AND MOURNING

OF FALLEN SOUTH CAROLINA FIREFIGHTERS


WHEREAS, on Monday June 18th, nine South Carolina Firefighters tragically lost their lives fighting a fire in a Charleston, South Carolina furniture warehouse;


WHEREAS, the heroes included Capt. William “Billy” Hutchinson, Capt. Mike Benke, Capt. Louis Mulkey, Engineer Mark Kelsey, Engineer Bradford “Brad” Baity, Assistant Engineer Michael French, Firefighter James “Earl” Drayton, Firefighter Brandon Thompson, and Firefighter Melvin Champaign;

WHEREAS, these firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice, risking their lives without hesitation as they ran into a burning building to protect the lives of those trapped inside. These firefighters taught us the true meaning of the words courage, honor, and duty;

WHEREAS, the citizens of New Mexico are grateful for the actions of these selfless heroes and it is with great sadness that we extend our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends that were left behind; and

WHEREAS, this tragedy reminds us of the tremendous sacrifice that the men and women of the fire services throughout New Mexico make as they fight to preserve and protect the health, safety and welfare of our States' citizens and property.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Richardson, Governor of the State of New Mexico, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of the State of New Mexico do hereby order that all flags be flown at half-staff on Friday, June 22, 2007, in honor and mourning of the South Carolina Firefighters.


ATTEST: DONE AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE

THIS 21ST DAY OF JUNE, 2007


MARY HERRERA WITNESS MY HAND AND THE GREAT

SECRETARY OF STATE SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO




BILL RICHARDSON

GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO

Remembering the Charleston 9

In memoriam to nine of South Carolina's finest who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty last night in West Ashley. Gone, but certainly not forgotten.

Captain William "Billy" Hutchinson, 48, 30 years of service

Captain Mike Benke, 49, 29 years of service

Captain Louis Mulkey, 34, 11.5 years of service

Engineer Mark Kelsey, 40, 12.5 years of service

Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity, 37, 9 years of service

Asst. Engineer Michael French, 27, 1.5 years of service

Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton, 56, 32 years of service

Firefighter Brandon Thompson, 27, 4 years of service

Firefighter Melvin Champaign, 46, 2 years of service