Firefighter suspended for refusing to peel American flag sticker from locker

[ken]

Chester, Pa., firefighter James Krapf wants to know what's wrong with Old Glory. The 11-year veteran was suspended without pay Thursday after he refused to peel a sticker of the American flag from his locker.

"It's pride…it's a matter of pride," Krapf said.

A new department rule mandates that all stickers and statements -- union, cartoon and political -- be stripped from lockers after several offensive and racist images showed up in the firehouse. But Krapf figured the red, white and blue was safe.

It seems he was wrong.

"The chief came out and said 'You have to remove your stickers,' I said 'No disrespect chief, but I'm not taking the flag off,'" Krapf recounted. He says the officer then asked him to leave.

Fire Commissioner James Johnson, who served in the Marine Corps, vows the symbolism of the decal is not the issue.

"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."

But Krapf refuses to give up and he's not alone. The firefighters union plans to negotiate with the department on the issue.

"We applaud Jim Krapf because these colors don't run," said union prez Stacy Landrum.

Krapf, who was turned away from the station again Friday, plans to stand his ground. "It's the American flag, we should be able to fly it wherever we want…I don’t believe it's offensive to anyone," he said.

The issue and Krapf's fate is scheduled to be discussed at a meeting on Monday.

This is ridiculous why can't they use common sense and have bad stickers removed and leave the rest. Also I'd like to know what that other sticker was he removed. Was this guy the trouble maker?

[diverdan]

This is ridiculous, there should be exceptions. The American Flag should not be banned or even considered optional.

[gtmofflin]

Hm, I'd disagree. The sticker is the flag, it is political. Political stickers are not allowed. Simple rule.
Should they allow all stickers of flags to be able to be put on their lockers? no? Just America's then?

[Garth1]

I was told to remove the American flag off my hard hat and i got fired for saying why it's not hurting any one

[gtmofflin]

Originally Posted by Garth1

I was told to remove the American flag off my hard hat and i got fired for saying why it's not hurting any one

It's a hard one. Not the hat

When you're patriotic to a Country, you can easily wonder why it would hurt anyone but if you examine all of the first World Countries, there's a whole lot of 'aliens' making the Country work.

[slawnski]

what about the flag on his uniform? do they firefighters have to remove that too because it is political???

[petruccio]

Originally Posted by ken

...we should be able to fly it wherever we want…I don’t believe it's offensive to anyone," he said.

Call me extreme....but I don't even care if someone DOES find it offensive...It's our flag and our country...they don't like it, they can leave

I agree with the poster above though...where the heck is the "common sense" on the part of the Fire Department Administrative officers???

[DXBDavie]

Originally Posted by petruccio

Call me extreme....but I don't even care if someone DOES find it offensive...It's our flag and our country...they don't like it, they can leave

I agree with the poster above though...where the heck is the "common sense" on the part of the Fire Department Administrative officers???

As a Brit, we sometimes get our digs in to the Americans...but there is one thing that we cannot question, that is the American patriotism and absolute loyality to your flag.

I wish we had a similar level of national pride,my God they remove the Union Flag from houses because it's deemed to be offensive and not 'multi-cultural'...it has nothing to do with culture or politics, but a love for your country.

Keep the sticker on the locker mate, and tell them to 'F' off!!