Spokane7
50°
February 21, 2012 in Nation/World
Man burns flag to protest flag-lowering
DETROIT – A western Michigan man whose son was killed while serving in the military burned a replica of New Jersey’s flag to protest that state’s decision to lower it in honor of performer Whitney Houston.
John Burri set the flag on fire Saturday on a grill outside his home in Wyoming, near Grand Rapids.
The 60-year-old Burri said lowering flags should be done for men and women who have given their lives in service to the United States.
Army Spc. Eric Burri died in 2005 in Baghdad. Michigan flags were lowered in his honor.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defended his decision to lower flags for Houston. Christie noted the 48-year-old icon was born in Newark and raised in nearby East Orange.
Houston died Feb. 11 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Zoo hand-raising cubs after rare cheetah birth 
rosehips on February 21 at 7:47 a.m.
a replica? What constitutes a replica?
I feel this man’s pain. I don’t think Whitney should have been honored that way, but I’m not sure that it should be reserved only for military members who have lost lives. Is there something written somewhere that says it should be restricted to these people?
We have many heros in our country who might deserve this honor. I don’t think Whitney Houston is one.
But I do have a question. Does anyone know if Frank Sinatra, the crooner and wanna-be mobster from Hoboken, NJ was given this honor after he died? Just curious…
Arbeautis on February 21 at 8:59 a.m.
Whitney herself would have objected to this half staff flag. Half staff flag is, of course, reserved for those who serve or have served with great personal sacrifice to our country and then pass.
greyhound2 on February 21 at 9:13 a.m.
Reportedly that a 4 day drinking binge and partying at the hotel pool Saturday afternoon, followed by too many barbituates and sleeping pills caused Houston to drown in her own hotel bathtub. Hardly a reason for flags at half staff.
Notapatriot on February 21 at 10:48 a.m.
Whitney Houston was a lovely young woman with an amazing voice that became a pathetic broken down drug addict in middle age. Sad and pathetic - a shadow of her youthful self. She deserves no pity as she did it by her own hand. Flags at half staff???? Give me a break. A drug addict does not a hero make.
MrNatural on February 21 at 12:37 p.m.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is a typical career politico/lobbyist and never served in the military…he thinks lowering the flag to half-staff is more of a prize to celebrity than a somber and serious honor…no disrespect to Ms. Houston…
greenlibertarian on February 21 at 6:45 p.m.
The guy makes a very valid point.