Gov. Christie to Lower Flags for Harvey, Clemons

Angry residents of the Garden State took to the Internet Wednesday to voice frustration over Gov. Chris Christie's mandate that flags be lowered to half-staff Friday to commemorate the death of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, a revered member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. On various news websites that announced the order, readers posted comments that questioned whether the honor, generally reserved for police officers, firefighters, soldiers and esteemed politicians, should have been bestowed on a musician – albeit one of the most well-loved performers in the Boss's band.

The kerfuffle adopted a slightly different tone, however, when news broke that Clark native and former Scotch Plains resident  and had yet to receive the same honor.

Radio station NJ 101.5 took up the debate Wednesday, asking listeners on its Facebook page, "Does it bother you that the governor has ordered the flag to be flown at half-staff in honor of saxophone player Clarence Clemons, while Army Cpl. James W. Harvey II of Toms River died Monday following a small-arms attack in Afghanistan?" (Harvey, a corporal at the time of his death, was post-humously promoted to sergeant.)

More than 100 people added their comments, many of which called the governor's actions "inappropriate" and "outrageous." 

Christie called into the radio station and stated his case, announcing that Harvey would receive the same half-staff honor. Governor's Office spokesman Michael Drewniak later added in an email: 

"Unfortunately, there was a simple misunderstanding by a caller to the radio station of the chain of events. The Governor’s Office received official notice of Sgt. Harvey’s death from the Pentagon last evening at 6:15 p.m. – after the governor had already issued the executive order on Clarence Clemons. Obviously, the governor is always deeply concerned and sensitive to the death of any New Jersey serviceman or woman and the impact on their families, other loved ones and their communities. The Governor’s Office always responds, after receiving official notice, with an executive order by the governor in memory of each of them, as well as with the lowering of flags at all state government buildings. The governor has already or will sign today an executive order in recognition of Sgt. Harvey and his sacrifice for his country, which we will issue as we always do from the press office."

At about 4 p.m. the Governor's Office did just that, announcing in a press release that it flags would be lowered to half-staff Friday for both Harvey and Clemons:

"Executive Order No. 68 - Ordering all State buildings to fly flags at half-staff on Friday, June 24, 2011 to honor the service and sacrifice of United States Army Sergeant James W. Harvey, II, a resident of Toms River, who lost his life serving on active duty in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan."

Correction: This article has been amended to reflect the following correction made June 23, 2011:

Due to an editorial error, a previous version of this story incorrectly used the term "half-mast," instead of the more appropriate "half-staff." Flags are flown at half-mast aboard ships and at naval stations. Elsewhere, they are flown at half-staff.