A veteran who, until recently, worked as a janitor for the Stanley County School District in South Dakota, said he was fired for speaking out against a colleague’s mistreatment of the American flag.
After posting a photograph of a crumpled flag clumsily left in the school’s boiler room and bringing his concerns to the superintendent, Cesar Zakahi reported he was unceremoniously relieved of his duties.
He described a fellow janitor’s treatment of the flag, saying she would “bundle it up in her arms, go into the boiler room, roll the South Dakota flag and the United States flag up in a bundle and throw it on top of a boiler.”
Despite his consistent attempts to show her the correct way to handle the flags, he said she replied that it was “too much of a bother” and continued her disrespectful behavior.
Instead of reprimanding an inconsiderate employee, the school district fired Zakahi for merely bringing the issue to light.
The superintendent “told me that I had overstepped my bounds as an employee,” he said, speculating the incident was something the retiring administrator was trying to “sweep … under the rug.”
A statement from the school district claims “our investigation did not reflect a mishandling of the flags” and states administrators “question … if the pictures circulating are an accurate reflection of how the flags were stored.”
An attorney, who happens to also be a veteran, has offered Zakahi legal services; and I imagine more details will surface as this case moves forward.
Unfortunately, since the left has ushered in a new era of thought describing patriotism as jingoistic and encouraging Americans to view their country as no more special than any other, such basic respect for our flag has largely been relegated to obscurity.
Fortunately, there are millions of strong-willed and patriotic citizens who refuse to stand by and watch their nation’s legacy be tarnished by those who would rather salute the flag of political correctness than show our own the respect it deserves.
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This janitor, who is a veteran, should get a medal of honor for standing up for the Star Spangled Banner and reporting the desecration of Old Glory. The Superintendant of this school should be hung by his @lls.
As a veteran and proud American, I salute this man for standing up for the flag under which we both served, however, his stance does not meet the criteria for CMH. The superintendent should be dealt harsh punishment. He/she not only disrespected the flag (which is only a piece of cloth in the technical sense) but he/she disrespected the ideals and principles that the flag represents. He/she also disrespected Mr. Zakahi and all the veterans and active duty military who gave so much to support and defend the principles that guaranteed that POS superintendent to go to school and have his/her job as superintendent. I hope that superintendent reads this and realizes what a POS he/she is.
Folks, this ain’t going to be the last time we hear about OLD GLORY being desecrated. Our young (and even the older generation) have either forgotten flag etiquette or not been taught. A couple of years ago I was driving down a major throughway I happened to spot a business there that was flying her upside down. I immediately pulled in to find out what the problem was, as you know when you fly the Flag upside down it means there is trouble. Well, when I asked one of the workers what the problem was, I was told with a minimum of words to mind my own business. After he said that I asked to see the Manager and when I told the Manager that he was flying OLD GLORY upside down, the idiot side “So!”. I then informed him that the way they were flying the flag meant that they were either under quarantine or in trouble and left. I called the head office and informed them that they were having trouble with one of their stores. They immediately sent someone out and corrected the problem and also got rid of those two trouble makers. (With cause).
US COMBAT VETERAN: Vietnam ’68 – ’69; Door-gunner, 1st Cavalry Division (AM) and now a retired USAF TSgt.
Flying a country’s flag upside down denotes a Country in distress. In certain cases it is an acceptable practice. I too took an Oath. I too am a Vietnam Combat Veteran. I did NOT fight so that a traitor like Obama could get away with having usurped the Presidency. We ARE a Country in distress.
“Truth is an affirmative defense”
I propose to you, that it is indeed appropriate to be flying the American Flag upside down, below the state flag… Because the Republic is dead… We are no longer a nation governed by the rule of law, we are now a nation governed by the rule of men… The office of the president has been usurped by an imposter, a fraud, an interloper who does not meet the constitutional standards for the job… Everyone in the federal government knows this, and they continue to let it happen… Yes, America most certainly is in distress, and it will only get worse.. Much, much worse..
never does the American Flag fly lower than any other flag in the United States. I do agree that we are in distress as a country, but not to the point that the flag has to be flown upside down.
Just try and burn a muslim countries flag and see what you get. Socialist democrats have a disease and antibiotics will not rid our country of them. Soon someone will try one more straw that will break the camels back and one ideal will come out the survivor. Our citizens have temporarily lost the meaning of Patriot and the meaning in the words of our Constitution. I feel sorry for what is surely coming but also welcome it because I gave my word.
There is only one cure for their disease…but sadly, it is illegal to administer that cure.
There is a Law that covers the improper handling of the American flag and it’s display. The Flag Act. In addition there is a Law that protects the disclosure of an employee to his employer of fraud,waste,mismanagement or the violation of Law. It is called the Whistleblowers Protection Act in the Federal Sector. The States have similar Laws. I would claim wrongful termination based on Whistleblowing.
You need to research what the flag act is. It has nothing to do with the proper handling of the flag. We do not have a law that covers ahndling and display of the flag either. What we have is a guide on flag ettiquite.
The article stated that,” Fortunately, there are millions of strong-willed and patriotic citizens who refuse to stand by and watch their nation’s legacy be tarnished by those who would rather salute the flag of political correctness than show our own the respect it deserves.”
I am less concerned about our nation’s legacy than I am concerned about it’s survival. Our elected Congressional Representatives allowed this madness to continue. With all that we know about the massive amount of voter fraud that took place in both presidential elections, the American people need to demand that Congress does a re-count in key swing states, focusing on absentee ballot’s.
If a recount is ordered, Obama will be proven to have stolen the election, and as such, he should be removed from office and the chosen candidate determined by the will of the American people should assume the presidency. If a re-count is not demanded then I fear that America will soon be no more what it once was.
I suspect no recount will be demanded. If a man whose father is a Kenyan — thereby making him not “natural-born”, and there’s no problem with this according to the masses, then how could we expect them to remove him from office for election irregularities? I fear your fear is well-placed and very real.
This reminds me of the mexicans who crossed our southern border who stomped and spit on our flag… and no one did anything but standing there looking… yet they wanna live here… but they said this country belongs to them.. and they’re gonna take it back… Soon this country will also belong to the Muslims cause they are building more and more Mosques, and is driven by Obama who is a ‘Closet’ Muslim. Wonder when he will come out and say.. he’s a Homosexual and a Muslim too…. or maybe he will keep the homosexual thing quite cause Muslims dont believe in man to man sex. uummmmm!!!! Perhaps he can convince them it’s a lot of fun !!!
Everybody here should call the Stanley County School District at 605 223-7741 and complain about the treatment of this person who had faith in our flag and what it stands for. They should request this person to be rehired instantly. I am a Viet Nam Vet and would not stand for it either. Also contact the representatives of the state and as for him to look into it.
A janitor at WHAT school? How can the school be contacted? Who fired him, precisely? People need to make their feelings known by emailing/phoning these people.
Here is the email address of the district superintendent who presumably fired Mr. Zakahi.
Don.Hotalling@k12.sd.us
Too bad liberals have no respect for anything or anyone…..it’s stunning these people are allowed to “educate” our children!!
They fired the wrong people! This is America where our flag demands to utmost respect and anyone who defies that should pay the price!