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Fire Department Drum Major Quits After Being Suspended in Obama Nod
Drum Major John Coleman of the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums band has quit the group following his initial suspension from the band for six months after a nod and wave at President Barack Obama during last week's inaugural parade.
Coleman's resignation from the band, first reported by the Plain Dealer earlier today, comes after becoming the center of a nationwide firestorm on whether the initial suspension was appropriate -- or over the top.
"There are too many bridges burned with the pipe band, too many hurt feelings on both sides," Coleman told the Plain Dealer, fire inspector for Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Here's a story from CNN.com about the original suspension, including an interview with the man at the center of it all (well, not Obama but...)
What are your thoughts on this? Should he have been suspended for breaking 'military parade protocol'? Should he have quit (granted, the press was substantial -- but the outcry was mostly over him being suspended)? What would you have done if marching by the newly minted President?
Some more links:
Coleman's resignation from the band, first reported by the Plain Dealer earlier today, comes after becoming the center of a nationwide firestorm on whether the initial suspension was appropriate -- or over the top.
"There are too many bridges burned with the pipe band, too many hurt feelings on both sides," Coleman told the Plain Dealer, fire inspector for Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Here's a story from CNN.com about the original suspension, including an interview with the man at the center of it all (well, not Obama but...)
What are your thoughts on this? Should he have been suspended for breaking 'military parade protocol'? Should he have quit (granted, the press was substantial -- but the outcry was mostly over him being suspended)? What would you have done if marching by the newly minted President?
Some more links:
- Statter 911: Drum Major Waves Goodbye for Good
- Plain Dealer: Drum Major John Coleman quits pipe and drum band afte...
- Caught on Video: Ohio firefighter suspended as drum major after ack...
- Video: Interview with John Coleman
- Plain Dealer Interview with Coleman BEFORE the Inauguration
- CNN: After suspension for nodding at Obama, drum major quits
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Pugsley67 on
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i think its a joke they are being a little self involved dont ya think
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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yes full military "honors" etc etc etc. I understand, I was in the military. I was aassigned as a liason to the precision rifle drill team of the Marine Corps...NOW THAT is full military. I guess Im just trying to imagine myself there. Lets see....Im the drum major for a pipe band...marching in what could quite possibly be the most historic inauguration we have had to date. I look over at the new President...MY commander in Chief, and he waves at me and gives me a thumbs up. . . Do I ignore him? He** NO I Freakin Wave back!
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Permalink Reply by Lane Doby on
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I just wonder if those who suspended him did so because they didn't like the fact that Barack Obama was the one who got elected, and this guy waving at him just set them off?
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Permalink Reply by lmaz on
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He is a firefighter, correct? Then he should know that TEAMWORK, FOLLOWING ORDERS and LEADING BY EXAMPLE are important for safety. He was in a parade not at a fire, but perhaps his lack of discipline in the parade is a reflection of his behavior at fires and in general.
Second, we are talking about a very formal situation - parading past the President of the U.S.A. , NOT average citizen, Barak Obama. The position of President demands respect. It's not an occasion that calls for an informal, "we're such good buddies, aren't we Barak?" wink, wave, nod or any other form of spontaneous show of friendship. I didn't vote for Obama and I don't particularly like him. But, he is the President. He stood there as President. He did not stand there as Barak Obama, Mr. Coleman's good buddy.
Finally, Mr. Coleman was not permanently expelled. He was suspended then he QUIT! That was his choice just as it was his choice to thumb his nose at the orders he was given. How long he was in the band is of no consequence if he cannot be a team player, follow orders and lead by example.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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It was a PARADE.
It was not a FUNERAL PROCESSION.
Lighten up, Francis.
If you have never done something spontaneous or "in the moment", then you're dead from the neck up.
Bet you've never broken the speed limit either.
Way too critical on a matter that doesn't change the outcome.
Why can't we ever get this kind of participation in an LODD thread?
Hmmm. I guess it is easier to dispense opinions on people in silly hats than people in fire hats!
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Permalink Reply by Bryan Goustos on
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Give me a break. Some people just have to give their heads a shake and wake up. It was more like a salute than a wave. They are NOT in the military so they should not be held to the same standard. He gave an eyes left to show his respect and then his salute. That's it. Some people just have to g out and ruin a great event by knit picking. Did the President file a complaint? No. So give it a rest.
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Permalink Reply by raymond on
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Six in one hand half dozen in the other. The suspension was too long made be probation for this guy who has done this 17yrs. Even in the military parade there are way to acknowledge the "THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!"When u make eye contact with someone it human nature to responsed. I don't blame him for quiting this was hitting a fly with missile overkill.
Capt Ross
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Permalink Reply by Greenman on
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Being in the military, I think I am qualified to say that this band's insistence on their brand of “military protocol" is ridiculous and obviously their "protocol" was invented by someone who either was never in the military, or who served a very long time ago and has forgotten how the military actually is.
In the Army, if a drum major for an Army band had a "human moment" such as this during a ceremony of such import, he would have received a verbal counseling, perhaps a written counseling and told "Don't do that again." His nod and wave were not "unbecoming behavior" and something the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial pipes and Drums Corps should remember is a little thing my grandmother used to say to me, " to err is human, but to forgive is divine."
GM
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I don't know if the band's reaction was because of their upcoming fundraiser, or not, I can say that I certainly wouldn't give that band a dime this year. "The band" gave itself a great big 'old purple shiner of a black eye on this one.
"The band" needs to pull its collective head out of its Fourth Point of Contact and try to undo the damage they caused themselves in the public's eye by their reaction to a heart-warming and entirely American reaction by Drum Major Coleman to our President. Perhaps their reaction is more about their political views of our new President, then about the nod and wave? Would they have suspended Drum Major Coleman if it had been "President McCain" instead of President Obama in the reviewing booth?
Sometimes people use rigid "protocols" to hide their true feelings. If they stuck with a strict "military protocol" they could participate in the inauguration parade, but still not show any personal support for the new President, and perhaps Drum Major Coleman’s acknowledgment of the President's wave to either him individually, or the band collectively (who besides the President knows for sure?) put a crack in the "strict military" facade?
Just my 2¢
GM
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Permalink Reply by Tom Eades on
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I didn't find Coleman's gesture to be offensive, or inappropriate. Maybe he should have been reprimanded for breaking protocol, but a suspension is quite severe. The punishment does not fit the crime.
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Permalink Reply by Terrence M. Dougan on
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I live in Cleveland & have had the honor of seeing the Pipe & Drum Band perform many times. They are always the highlight of the event, especially on St. Patrick's Day. I think this was a serious over reaction on the part of the band's leader. John's response was subdued & respectful. It was not an attempt to be showy or bring attention to himself. As a former Marine I am well aware of military protocols & do not think John's response was worthy of being made an example of. It is a sad blemish on an otherwise fine group of hard working, selfless individuals, some of which I know personally.
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