Marine Issues Challenge to 'Teach Obama Respect' After Flags Aren't Flown at Half-Staff to Honor Slain Service Members

A Marine is challenging America to “teach Obama respect” by flying all U.S. flags at half-staff in honor of the five service members killed in the deadly Chattanooga attack, an order the president had yet to give on Monday.

President Barack Obama is facing strong criticism for declining to immediately order that U.S. flags at the White House and other public buildings be flown at half-staff, which he has done following other tragedies.

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Mike Shepard, who says he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years, issued his challenge on the website DCGazette.com:

Most are fully aware of the president not showing support for our fallen and flags continue flying high in the sky. He invited the family of a traitor named Berghdal to the rose garden to celebrate the release of our enemy. He has yet to call out the terrorist who shot up two recruiting stations in Chattanooga. Well, we don’t need permission to show our respect for those five lives lost. I am reaching out to you America in hopes that we teach Obama about respect.

I say we should come together and fly our flags at half mast until the 30th of July. The 30th will mark the two week anniversary of this tragedy. Let’s show the president what it is to respect this country and our fallen. If you drive by a business, please go in and ask they fly that flag at half mast. If we get the whole country to do it the president might get the message. The message that he is just one man while we are the voice of America. If he won’t call for flags to be flown at half mast the American people will. Please share this and together we can show Washington what it means to respect… May God forever bless you all, Shep.

Marine Veteran Joshua Blea pays his respects at a memorial in front of the Armed Forces Career Center/National Guard Recruitment Office on July 18, 2015 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Image source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) joined the growing chorus of critics on Monday, telling FOX Business Network that he "can't imagine" why Obama hasn't ordered the flags be lowered. He added that it "needs to happen and it needs to happen soon."

“We’ve lost five servicemen, and as you’ve said, the flag goes to half-mast for all types of other incidents around the country,” he said.

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