In spite of New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill failing to adhere to a Presidential mandate to lower all American flags on government buildings, Atlantic Highlands borough did it immediately as soon as the borough administrator was made aware of the Presidential order.
President Trump had issued the directive that all flags on government buildings and federal institutions across the world should be lowered to half-staff from July 12 through July 18, to honor the passing of United States Senator and military veteran Lindsey Graham of South Carolina who died July 11.
The state flag status for New Jersey never mentioned the President’ directive and flags on state buildings remained at full staff in spite of the Presidential edict. Th directive as written by the President did not limit half-staff to federal buildings, but to all government buildings.
However, when alerted to the fact that the flag at Atlantic Highlands Borough Hall was not lowered as directed, the Borough Administrator at first cited the state flag status website. When alerted to the fact that Presidential mandates override gubernatorial flag status reports, he took action immediately, read the Presidential mandate and directed the flags on municipal buildings to be lowered to half staff.
Highlands Mayor Carolyn Bouillon had also immediately directed the flag be flown at half staff once alerted to the Presidential proclamation. The flag at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Route 36 was also immediately lowered to half staff when alerted.
Although flags on New Jersey state buildings were never lowered for Senator Graham, they were lowered to half staff for one day on July 17. That was in response to a gubernatorial mandate to lower the staff to honor Robert Rieder, a firefighter with the Malaga fire department who died July 10 as a result of injuries he suffered enroute to a fire on June 27.
In the meantime, both Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblyman Gary Sharfenberger have already begun discussion on a proposal to adopt the US flag Code as the flag code for New Jersey . A previously introduced bill did not pass the Legislature.
Governor Sherrill, who was at Sandy Hook July 3 to welcome the captains of the visiting Tall Ships to New Jersey, came under additional criticism recently after she used a New Jersey state police helicopter to fly to the US Naval Academy last April for a ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of women at the Naval Academy.
The governor is a graduate of the Academy and two of her children are currently students the. However, while she graduated in 1994, she was not permitted to walk with her class or participate in the graduation ceremonies due to her involvement in the nationally reported cheating scandal. Though not accused of cheating, the Governor failed to follow the Honor Code he had sworn to uphold as a Naval Academy student to report on known wrongdoings. She received her commissioning several months after graduation and went on to be accepted in the naval aviation program as a helicopter pilot.
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Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
