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Slain soldier's father protests NJ flag-lowering

Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:27 PM EST
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Corey Williams, Associated Press
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DETROIT — A western Michigan man whose son was killed while serving in the military has burned a replica of New Jersey's flag to protest that state's decision to lower it in honor of performer Whitney Houston.

John Burri set the flag on fire Saturday on a grill outside his home in Wyoming, near Grand Rapids.

The 60-year-old Burri says lowering flags should be done for men and women who have given their lives in service to the United States.

Army Specialist Eric Burri died in 2005 in Baghdad. Michigan flags were lowered in his honor.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defended his decision to lower flags for Houston. Christie noted the 48-year-old icon was born in Newark and raised in nearby East Orange.

Houston died Feb. 11 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Dani-976192

This man is right- why were flags lowered for an entertainer? Houston was beautiful and talented, true- but lowering flags in her "honor" cheapens the act. She made a lot of bad choices in her life, and those choices caused her early death. Houston didn't give her life for her country or her fellow human beings- she sang, she acted, and she killed herself.

All that beauty, talent and money..........none of it helped Houston make better decisions. I hope her daughter follows a different path.

  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:52 PM EST
cannonballer

Rewarding bad behavior, it's the American way now.

And let's have a moment of silence for all the unknown drug addicts that have died recently.

  • 2 votes
#1.1 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:40 PM EST
American Dreams

both of you are saying pretty much what I am thinking about this event. Her unquestionable talent and beauty should not over ride the fact she was a drug addict and died a drug addicts death. Lowering the American flag to honor her was a slap in the face to every fallen solider, Fireman, Police and Border Patrol Officer who died protecting this country.

  • 3 votes
#1.2 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:28 PM EST
Davy-755715

I remember years ago when someone or some group in the UK decided that the Beatles, because they had brought so much fame (but mostly, money) to their country, should be awarded the same medal which had been awarded to their WWII veterans. When the vets found out about it, a bunch of them sent their medals back in...

  • 1 vote
#1.3 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 2:29 AM EST
Dani-976192

Can't say as I blame, them, Davy. After something like that, those medals would be worth more if they were melted down and recycled.

    #1.4 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:52 PM EST
    Reply
    Sammy-2678587

    She was not deservIng of this and I don't blame him for being pissed.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#2 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:39 AM EST
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