Cleveland firefighter John Coleman's wink to President Obama gets drum major tossed from band

[firedupdem]

All it took was a wave, a wink and a nod toward President Obama for a Cleveland firefighter to get waived from his marching band.

Drum Major John Coleman reciprocated an acknowledgment from the new president at last week's inaugural parade while marching past him with the Cleveland Firefighter's Memorial Pipes & Drums.

"He waved and I just gave him a wave and a little nod and moved on," Coleman said yesterday.

What may seem as a small patriotic gesture - which was captured by CNN and also included what seemed like a wink - did not sit well with Coleman's superiors.

They made him face the music with a six-month suspension from his drum major duties.


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/26/2009-01-26_cleveland_firefighter_john_colemans_wink-1.html

[Kerrytravelers]

1. So, he was suppose to ignore the President?

Good grief. I don't think this man did anything wrong.

[firedupdem]

3. I found it kinda odd...

"We had gone over and over time and again with everyone in the band that this was a military parade. Protocol and proper decorum had to be followed at all times," bandleader Pipe Major Mike Engle told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Unfortunately, John chose to ignore that."

Coleman insisted he abided by the rules.

"I was told it's a military parade and I'm not to salute the President and I did not salute," he said.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Actually he did. There is a strict protocol that is supposed to be followed. the DM knew that and

did not comply.

That said, if it had not made CNN, nothing would have been done (no record/no action kind of thing)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. What is WRONG

with these assholes?

[Cleita]

5. It seems that any group has its little Napoleons that over stretch the rules

because they can.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. Power corrupts;

absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lord Acton was right, and so are you.

I hope the national exposure shames them into undoing this nonsense.

[madrchsod]

4. some people have a genetic defect that makes them assholes

pipe major mike engle is one of those unfortunate people....

[elocs]

7. Yes, it's too bad, but this is an old story that has been posted here a number of times. n/t

[Bombero1956]

9. it wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't something else going on here

This could be one guy settling a score with the drum major. Mr. Coleman has now left the band for good. People in the fire service are no different than the rest of society. We have more than our fair share of assholes and Engle sounds like an A++ asshole.