Firefighter Suspended for Waiving to The President
 

Firefighter Tears Up Over Suspension For Nod To Obama

John Coleman Waves To President During Inaugural Parade


http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/18565275/detail.html

CLEVELAND -- A local firefighter says he has accepted his six-month suspension from his role in the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drum Corp for giving President Barack Obama a nod and wave during last week's inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.


Drum Major and Cleveland Heights fire inspector John Coleman spoke exclusively to NewsChannel5's Duane Pohlman about his violation.


Coleman has been with the pipes and drums for 17 years and said he doesn't want to bring negativity or shame to the band.


Obama needs to intervene with a pardon

I don't think Obama has that kind of jurisdiction..... it's a messed up situation though.

I agree with you except for one thing:

"I just was told this was a military parade and I was not to salute the president, which I did not and I happened to glance over at the booth and see if the president was even in the booth reviewing," he said

And they definently cannot get away with that in the military. Or else soldiers would break ranks and wave (or God know what else!!!) all the time.

Discipline.

Maybe he should have waved a waiver at the president.

He doesn't. It is the Cleveland FD that is suspending him, not Obama.


The band leader is legally retarded.
He is charging Coleman with, "conduct unbecoming the band."

At first I thought this was terrible. After a bit of thought, I think it's appropriate. Musicians in these sort of settings are supposed to do very specific things -- stand a certain way, behave a certain way. This guy didn't do his job and in doing so did it when he was supposed to be honoring the President of the United States. That's kind of a big deal.

He is being punished enough. Because his suspension is 6 months, he can't lead the band in the annual parade on St. Patrick's Day, which in Cleveland is basically a city holiday.

Update on the Story
 

Ohio firefighter quits band over Obama nod


CLEVELAND (AP) -- An Ohio firefighter says he's quitting a marching band after he was suspended from the group for nodding and waving to President Barack Obama during last week's inauguration parade.

Drum Major John Coleman says there are too many hurt feelings over the gesture he made when the Cleveland Firefighter's Memorial Pipes & Drums marched past the president.

The organization said the firefighter violated the proper decorum required in a military parade. The band leader said members had been warned not to make gestures, and Coleman was suspended from the group for six months.

Coleman says Obama smiled and waved first, and that he was just acknowledging the president

I think this is the video I saw on Inside Edition a couple of days ago. He waved and winked at President Obama, but it seemd very innocent to me. I don't know how that garnered a six-month suspension. A bit harsh in my opinion.

Here is a link: Drum Major suspended

To wink or not to wink
 

In the CNN interview, he claimed that he did not wink.
http://www.cleveland.com/tipoff/inde...man_quits.html


This is now known in Cleveland as "Wavegate"

The winking doesn't matter... he clearly nodded and waved...he broke protocol....I think the punishment may be too severe tho.

Brilliant.

I don't remember where I saw the article, and I can't find it now, but I read today that he quit rather than take the suspension.

Just saw Benzgirl's post. I must have scrolled past.

Diane Sawyer did a tribute to John Coleman yesterday. She ended GMA with a wave and a nod...

On "Good Morning America" Wednesday, anchor Diane Sawyer took Coleman's side.
"They suspended him -- broke his heart -- for six months. They suspended him, so he quit," said Sawyer, who signed off, along with co-anchor Robin Roberts, by nodding and winking at the camera. "So to you, Mr. Coleman, we say [wink, nod] back atcha."

I saw this on another message board and have mixed feelings. I've been in the performing arts for a long time, especially the marching band/drum corps area.

Being a product of the groups I associated with, I was taught that in events like parades (though I haven't been in something as big as an Inauguration) you had to uphold the image of [Insert Group Name Here] and there is certain decorum that needs to be followed.

In this case I can easily see both sides, the corps laid out clear and specific guidelines for every member. If someone breaks those rules, then they should be punished. I'll admit a 6 month suspension was extreme, but I feel some form of punishment is necessary.

In Coleman's defense, its the Presidential Inauguration. This one more special than most because Obama is the first African-American President, but also not too many people get to be a part of the parade and being selected is an honor.