The mayor of Olive Branch, Mississippi, is pushing back on calls to lower flags in honor of Dolly Parton, saying the tribute should be reserved for circumstances of exceptional national significance.
“I believe lowering the American flag to half-staff should mean something very significant,” Mayor Ken Adams wrote Friday in a post on the city’s Facebook page.
“In my opinion, it should be reserved for our military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents and other major national leaders, or events that have had a tremendous impact on our country.
“If we lower the flag every time a well-known or beloved person passes away, I believe we eventually lessen the meaning of the gesture.”
Adams opened his statement by praising the “9 to 5” singer as a “great person” who “brought happiness to millions of people and has done tremendous things for others throughout her life.”
He added that he has “nothing but respect for her.”
The mayor said he does not believe local governments should simply ignore directives from the president or governor, but noted that Mississippi’s home rule framework gives municipalities broad authority to make their own decisions.
President Trump and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves both ordered U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff for one week following Parton’s death Tuesday at age 80.
“The President can make the decision for the country. The Governor can make the decision for the State of Mississippi. I believe a mayor should have the ability to make a decision for his or her city,” Adams continued.
“I also don’t believe residents elected me to be a ‘salute and execute’ Mayor but to lead with conviction.”
He stressed that his decision wasn’t about “disrespecting Dolly Parton. It isn’t about politics. And it certainly isn’t about saying she wasn’t a great American.”
“It’s simply my belief that the American flag at half-staff is one of the highest honors we can give, and I believe that honor should be reserved for truly extraordinary circumstances,” he said. “Sometimes preserving the meaning of an honor means being selective about when we use it.”
Adams faced criticism in the comments, with one person writing, “She did more for children than any politician ever has. That should raise her status in your eyes from ‘just a celebrity.’”
“I’d lower it for Dolly before any politician,” a second person stated.
A third commenter wrote, “When you said ‘it’s simply my belief’, I guess you said it all. Doesn’t matter to you what the President, the Governor or your residents believe. And ‘reserved for people who made a tremendous impact?’ Well…she was probably the most unifying figure of the past 40 years; and she donated 325 million books to kids. Sounds like an impact.”
A fourth person who identified as a veteran and first responder wrote about being “100% ok with lowering the flags for Dolly. She gave her time and money to the military and multiply organizations. She earned this.”
Adams didn’t clarify if his statement meant the flag would not be lowered in Olive Branch.
