US

9/11 Memorial Organizers Appalled After Georgia County Solicitor General Disrespectfully Removes Flags

9/11 Memorial Flags Disrespectfully Removed By Georgia County Official

3,000 American flags that each represented a victim of 9/11 were planted at a city park in Canton, Georgia, but found their way to trash cans and the floor of the Cherokee County Courthouse. CBS Atlanta reports that the organizers who planted the memorial are outraged after learning the order to disrespectfully remove the flags came from the Cherokee County Solicitor General David Cannon Jr.:


Lori Pesta, president of “Salute to Our Veterans,” the group that planted the memorial, found the flags on the county courthouse floor and stuffed in trashcans. Pesta told WSBTV that she filed a police report Thursday after seeing the flags were missing from the park, and assumed that someone had stole them. Pesta and Vietnam War veteran John Marinko told WSBTV that they were appalled when they discovered the flags, which cost the group $2,500, lying on the floor.

“Each one of these flags represents a soul that was lost on 9/11. They deserve respect,” said Marinko.

The Cherokee Tribune reports that Pesta is considering a lawsuit against the solicitor general for “moral turpitude.” Canon insists that he was not trying to offend anyone.

“I was just trying to help out. We could have done a better job stacking them. My goal was to get them out of the weather,” Cannon told WSBTV. “I’m sorry.”

Cannon told CBS Atlanta that he had a group of juveniles remove the flags as a part of community service, and he was only attempting to help with clean up efforts. Pesta said to the Cherokee Tribune that the solicitor not only disrespected the display, but sent a bad message to the young individuals whom he instructed to remove the flags.

Salute to Our Veterans had planned a flag retirement ceremony for Friday, but canceled the event since the flags were removed. The flags will be stored for use in future veterans’ events.

Comments (186)

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  • chips1
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:35pm

    Hope they clean it up properly so as to make room for B.O. in the trash can.

    Report Post »  
  • Wixom35
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:32pm

    Another RINO! Screw him – vote hm out and take a page from the union play book – protest his home 24 hr’s a day = a turd lives here!

     
  • CREENDN
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:32pm

    “When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.” The Flag Code

    Report Post »  
    • capitalideals
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:12pm

      I live in Cherokee County, and it looks like the solicitor had a bad case of dumbass. I really don’t think he meant to disrespect the flag, he just didn’t think, period.

       
    • Ex-Democrat
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:47pm

      This is yet another reason why I believe that all public servants and public workers should be required to pass a Civics Exam before being able to either run for office or take a public job.

      Report Post »  
    • SteveSD
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 12:48am

      However, this is very instructive, and speaks to a critical point. Note what happens when a politician located close to the people he serves screws up. Note the outrage. Remember well the consequences. The Solicitor General’s office is withing a few minutes drive of his constituents, and you better believe he’s going to respond, and quickly because he doesn’t want to look them in the eye.

      Remember this and compare it to the situation wherein the federal government, located thousands of miles away from those it serves screws up, and does so with impunity. The result? Arrogant, hypocritical, conceited, supercilious bureaucrats who assert that everything can be solved by Washington in a venal attempt to increase their own power through the subversion of our Constitutional Republic.

      Report Post »  
    • the hawk
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 2:33am

      Maybe he knew they were made in China ? just say’in ……

      Report Post »  
    • the hawk
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 2:37am

      Actually They should tape them on boms the should be droping on Affganistan ! Or EAST PAKISTAN !

      Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:04am

      … I don‘t believe this ’solicitor’ at all. This was done intentionally, and meant to offend everyone involved. It was probably a directive that came down from the WhiteHouse, and went something like this: WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN” FLAGS!!! TRASH THOSE FLAGS!!!

      Report Post »  
    • one years food ration like glenn says
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:10am

      Jaquetta ??? Wonder why she talks like a white girl disrespecting her hood like that .. ???
      So let me get this straight , removing 3000 flags BEFORE the event takes place is helping out ? Ppppfftt..

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • t00nces2
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:45am

      I’ll bet had they been Korans they would not have wound up on the floor…

      Report Post »  
    • yougottabekidding
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:00am

      Two thoughts
      He wanted to make sure some school kid did not take one to school and get a weapons charge.
      Noboby is that stupid!
      If he wanted to help he would have asked if they needed help, and he ,as an official, would know what else was happening with the recovery and if not would have persued the question.
      Got caught!

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:31am

      You can‘t fold a flag that’s attached to a pole. He could have rolled each one tight, and stored them all in a container that wasn’t a trash can. I think he just didn’t think it through, I don’t think he meant any disrespect. The kids should have been instructed better on how to deal with them. Getting them out of the weather is a noble intention, and saved the veteran’s group their $2,500.

      Report Post »  
    • yougottabekidding
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:54am

      loriann12

      “Saved them $2500″ Do you have any idea what a flag retirment ceremony is?

      Report Post »  
    • oldoldtimer
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 10:30am

      Notice they left out his party affiliation. Want to bet he is a dem?

      Report Post »  
    • Sheepdog911
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 10:59am

      Looks like it’s time for a recall election for the Solicitor General. Collected by a bunch of juvenile delinqunets (community service participants) to protect the flags from the weather? Oh come on, my hamster ate my homework is a better excuse.

      Report Post » Sheepdog911  
    • Scrubmaster
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:11am

      The flag rules only applies to certain sizes.

      Report Post »  
    • SHvnDave
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:48am

      @Scrubmaster: You need to read Title 4, article 3 of the US Code. You size limitations do not exist and someone told you they do for the sake of being able to do exactly what this article is about.

      Everyone – please go and read Title four of the US Code (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode )

      Report Post » SHvnDave  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 12:40pm

      Yes i do know what a flag retirement ceremony is. I’ve been to several….have you ever seen the Texas flag retired. It’s really a beautiful ceremony. They cut out the big star, the background and all the separate colors separately. They give gromets to veterans so they can remember the event. My husband was a scout and my son has been a scout for years.

      My point was, you retire DISGRACED, or worn out flags, ones that you wouldn’t want to display anymore. These were perfectly good flags, they just needed to be rolled up, a rubber band put around them and stored properly. You don’t actually think they retire flags after one use, and go out and buy more, do you?

      Report Post »  
    • cosette
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 2:25pm

      Odds are this moron is a democrat. My husband and I fly our flag daily and treat it with respect. We bring it in at dusk every night and do not fly it in inclement weather. Our neighbor, a SCHOOL TEACHER, and, as his bumper sticker proclaims, a proud democrat, asked my husband why we bring our flag in at night. My husband told him it was out of respect, and proper flag etiquette. He had never heard that. Pathetic.

      Report Post »  
    • eric6161
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 3:27pm

      I see a man who has no business working around people. He reminds me of the lion… no heart. He might make a great accountant who takes in info and spits back out info while sitting in his cubicle that faces a wall in the basement.
      His job involves people and people have to be treated better than a column of numbers. I think it’s time the county gave him a calculator and a basement cubicle.

      Report Post »  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 3:41pm

      I agree with EX-DEM… there should be course in CONSTITUTION and TREATMENT OF OUR FLAG etc.
      BESIDES…talk about a WASTE!!! I can‘t believe that some STORAGE place wouldn’t volunteer a space to STORE these FLAGS until NEXT YEAR… WHERE are the BOY SCOUTS there? THE GIRL SCOUTS? A church group? the DAR? COME ON GEORGIA… Save those flags and store them respectfully. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE???? OR…they should be handed out to people who will display them YEAR ROUND….silly public official…you take our tax money for your salary and disrespect our FLAG?

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • lizziebee
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 3:46pm

      I got the same queezy feeling I had when I read about the Amish men. Nauseating. They should all be fired in disgrace. Evidentally there was neither an ex military nor Boy Scout around. What a pity.

      Report Post »  
    • MetalPatriot
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:21pm

      Is it possible that in order to plant the flags there needed to be a permit issued because it’s public property? It seems like you need a permit for everything. Also seems like Patriotism, Chrisitanity, & an Individuals rights are being legislated away.

      Report Post » MetalPatriot  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 19, 2011 at 3:18am

      @PATTY HENRY

      That’s a good point. Our scouts have a yard sale every year to raise money. My MIL works at a storage facility and they donate one storage unit for the scouts to keep their stuff in until the yard sale.

      Report Post »  
    • Gamecock97
      Posted on September 19, 2011 at 9:05am

      For those posters wondering if Cannon is a dem … he isn’t, he is a Republican. I agree with CapitalIdeals. I too live in Cherokee county and have met Cannon. I don’t think he was trying to be disrepectful, I think he made a bad choice. He should have contacted Lori and spoken to her prior to taking down the flags. Then he would have found out that there was an intent for a flag retirement ceremony. In addition, he shouldn’t have assumed a bunch of kids would know the proper way to treat the flags —- they are going to do whatever is the most expedient. This could have been a learning momement for those kids had there been some adult oversight but instead everyone lost! I have no doubt with the activism here by the Tea Party and Republican party that Cannon will face difficult times ahead.

      Report Post »  
  • CCTXCN
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:30pm

    It the People dont stand up to this kind of disrespect and remove him from office it will only get worse! I don;t care what Party he is with! his actions are unaccecptable is a Free Socioty!

    Report Post »  
    • Wayne
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 10:47am

      AMEN, this person should be fired from office immediately and those FLAGS put back where they were. And if people like him don’t like the USA, than leave.

      Report Post »  
  • a1g2
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:30pm

    rense.com

    Report Post »  
    • snidley-whiplash
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:31pm

      A1G2…by far the most interesting, most informative web site I have read and I hope others will take a look. After reading the comments that follow not many paid attention. I bookmarked it and will refer to it often. Let’s cut through the chase and if you missed it here it is again http://www.rense.com/general32/americ.htm
      S/F

      Report Post » snidley-whiplash  
    • kralspaces
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:23am

      This was an interesting find while parsing the site. It’s a video about everything Glenn Beck has been sharing the last couple of years on Fox and this video was not even produced by Mercury.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbF5loRF61U&feature=youtu.be

      kralspaces  
    • Tim Law
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 10:36am

      Thank you for posting this site. It is very informative and explains just how we have gotten to this point in time. I would make one point though, they did rename themselves progressive’s but the mission is still the same destroy the U.S. from within.

      Report Post »  
    • MichaelMs
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:47am

      Excelent

      Report Post » MichaelMs  
  • tom
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:26pm

    He looks gay, that would explain it….a friend of Obama.

    tom  
    • db321
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 12:47am

      Please do remove this creep from office when his term comes up for re-election. Let him go back on the Welfare tit.

      db321  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:23pm

    I Think the guy just made a idiot mistake,He did not disrespect the flag as bad as the Commiecrats did at Obama’s big rally.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 19, 2011 at 3:21am

      I think our society hasn’t placed enough importance on the flag, and most people don’t even stop to think about it. they just don’t mean outright hate, they just don’t consider it important. Look at Michelle, all this fuss over a flag. It says the attitudes of the left, if he indeed is left.

      Report Post »  
  • Taxman
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:23pm

    It seems obvious that this Bozo was never a Boy Scout or in the military service. He would have known better. Shame on his parents!

     
  • Magyar
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:22pm

    FOLKS! It no longer matters if Republican or Democrat, these anti-Americans must be removed as soon a possible.

    Report Post »  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:21pm

    He must be a stupid liberal.. “I was in a hurry becasue of the weather”.. creep needs a job flipping burgers.. he certainly doesn’t deserve the job he has..

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • Honest_E
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:05pm

    President Obummer won’t wear a flag pin, and Cannon won’t allow them to be displayed. Not even a week has passed since 9/11. That was just plain insensitive and wrong! I don’t believe his story that he was “just getting them out of the weather.” I think he subscribes to the same anti-American club that PrezO does.

    Report Post » Honest_E  
    • lapua338shooter
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:59am

      @Republicorp…. Thanks for the email address on that commie rat jerk. You saved me the trouble of looking it up. I sent him a very polite note expressing my thoughts & feeling about schmucks that disrespect the American Flag and dishonoring those fallen in the attack on 9/11/01.
      I hope I didn’t make him cry….

       
  • ladyda
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:04pm

    Probably one of those delusional P.C. Democraps, wanting everyone to just move along and hurry up and build that mosque at ground zero!

    Report Post » ladyda  
  • neverending
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:00pm

    This sort of behavior runs rampant all across our nation since the bastard in chief was inaugurated – one of the most tragic days in America.

    Report Post »  
    • Airb0rne4325
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:13am

      He stated he had “juveniles” pickup and stack the flags. Kids these days don’t know squat about the country let alone any flag edicate. I think it was a lack of judgement, not outright malicious intent.

      Report Post » Airb0rne4325  
  • AmeriCat
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:00pm

    Again…it has happened again.

    Remember the Democratic Convention….
    and the hundreds of American flags strewn on the ground
    and overflowing in trash cans and dumpsters?

    Remember how the Boy Scouts, and also TEA,
    worked hard to gather up as many flags as possible and save them?

    Glenn spoke of it…showed videos on his FOX program.

    The Left sure doesn’t care about our flag, our Pledge of Allegiance,
    our Constitution, and….their political toy…our military!

    Report Post »  
  • netmail
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:56pm

    Shock…He’s a Republican.

    Report Post »  
    • terryinlasvegas
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:00pm

      He’s still a liar. And perhaps a RINO.

      Report Post »  
    • jds7171
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:01pm

      This is a bad thing to do, but come on people stop being such sissys that everything offends you. Who cares he is a republican. That doesn’t make him holy.

      Report Post »  
    • netmail
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:30pm

      On his Facebook page he espouses his ideals to be CONSERVATIVE. These are the actions of someone who doesn’t give our flag any thought at all….which would be typical of someone from the same stripe as our unbelieveable president; NOT a proclaimed conservative. Surprising and disappointing….not “shocking” really as I previously said. Nothing is shocking anymore.

      Report Post »  
    • watchdog1
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:54pm

      And you really believe he would say he was a Leftist after doing something like that….give me a break…just like they try to tag anyone who does anything bad a Republican or a Tea Party Member, he probably threw the flags out just so he could claim to be a Conservative, I‘m surprized he didn’t claim to be part of the Tea Party or that he was told to do that by Bush or Sarah Palin….you all have got to stop being so gullible….

      Report Post »  
    • Hickory
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:57am

      If he is a Republican, I can fly. This guy is a stupid RINO.

      Report Post » Hickory  
  • 82dAirborne
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:48pm

    I am not one of those folks who want a Constitutional Amendment protecting the Flag. And I don’t believe that is a case of free speech action. I do think that this is blatant disrespect of our Flag. Unless I am blinder than I think I am some of those flags are stuffed upside-down in a plastic trashcan.

    It makes me sad that people don’t have a little more respect naturally. Without a law or amendment – much less a law suit. What were these people thinking?

    Just sad.

    Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:54pm

      I almost forgot: Screw you Cannon & anyone who aided in the removal and “storage” of these flags.

      82dAirborne  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:56pm

      They did get the :”upside-down” part correct: This nation is in dire peril!!!!!

      We need the Tea Party on STEROIDS.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • Robert-CA
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:02pm

      With all these stories of disrespect to the American flag it makes me feel like I’m living in any country in this world other than the USA & of course the American flag is offensive ……………………………………………. to traitors !!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:32pm

      82

      It makes me sad also. Since I live only a few miles from there, I can tell you he was not removing
      them because of the weather…..unless he was afraid that the temperture dropping several degrees
      because of fall was somehow going to destroy them.

       
    • CherokeeCountyIsMyHome
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:51pm

      1) Yes, some flags were upside down in trashcans, some in boxes just piled up haphazardly, but mostly piled on the floor – looking as though they were ready to be taken out to the dumpster. And had they not been FOUND (they were _NOT_ returned!!) they were probably going to go in the trash this weekend!
      2) Doesn‘t matter what party he’s with – he STOLE and disrespected 3000 American flags and the 9/11 victims they respresented. What ticks me off is that he’s a “small-town-big-name” who thinks he can walk around this county doing whatever he wants because he’s a “Cannon” (and “this park was named after [his] grandaddy”) and he’s trying to get this swept under the rug. He and his “friends” think they are above the law and it TICKS ME OFF as a tax-paying Cherokee County resident! I’m tired of these “good-old-boys” and it needs to stop!
      3) The news didn‘t have the police chief’s statement, but Patch.com did and he falsely stated that the property was “returned to Ms. Pesta”, but she clearly walked around the City of Canton and FOUND the property herself! So, I’m interested to know where the police chief is on the totumpole of the Cherokee County “Good-Old-Boys“ to ”help” Cannon get around this fine mess he’s gotten himself into….Riddle me that Batman!

       
  • netmail
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:45pm

    A perfect example of the caliber of person likely to be a so called “public servant” today. Root out ALL traitors in 2012 and get them the hell out of office for good!!!

    Report Post »  
  • BillnGA
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:45pm

    You dumb A$$……..you offended me. Does that count…..an American citizen. These are the people who need to be unemployed!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • staggerlee32
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:45pm

    I don’t believe this guy is sorry.

    staggerlee32  
  • terryinlasvegas
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:45pm

    He is obviously a Democrat. And a liar.

     
  • COFemale
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:43pm

    What a bozo.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • BIGJAYINPA
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:42pm

    What else would you expect. My next paycheck says this moron has a “D” behind his name…Just sayin’

    Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
  • onegodinkansas
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:42pm

    Come on, people. We learned better than this in Boy Scouts!

    Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:41pm

    Canon, I hope you have a PR video at the ready…best look to a ‘South Park’ parody in regards to the latest BP spill…

    I’m Sorry….

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
  • HD Veteran
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:39pm

    Can you believe it? I’m actually not surprised.

    Report Post » HD Veteran  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:45pm

      Cannon should be removed from office- but the way things go nowdays he will get a reward

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:45pm

      I can believe it, and will not be shocked at all if it turned out the Obama-administration had something to do with these incidents around the nation as well. Nothing these socialist progressives do anymore to disgrace the traditions and meanings of our nation and heritage suprises me.

      Recall the other day Michael Obama’s dealing with a flag ceremony?

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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