From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
January 6, 2025
NOT in Bruce Blakeman’s ‘Backyard’ (NIBBBY): Flags are lowered 12/29-1/28 for our country’s 30 day commemoration of President Jimmy Carter’s death – but not in Nassau County.
When Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, wouldn’t lower county flags starting Dec. 29, 2024, to honor President Jimmy Carter, like the rest of America did, our county became a nationwide embarrassment.
Mineola, NY, USA. January 6, 2025. Flags flying at Theodore Roosevelt Nassau County Executive and Legislative Building are not lowered to half mast during nationwide commemoration of President Jimmy Carter. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
But you can’t read about any of that in the New York Post – which is now the official newspaper of Nassau County, thanks to Blakeman with the support of the Republican-controlled Nassau County legislature.
President Biden ordered flags at federal buildings to be put at half-staff for thirty days – from December 29th to January 28th – in honor of the late former president, who died at the age of one hundred.
State governors, including New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul, directed state flags to fly at half staff during those thirty days.
This follows the U.S. Flag Code 4 USC 7 related to the death of U.S. Presidents. The flag code is advisory, not mandatory.
Yesterday, January 5th – after facing widespread negative media coverage* (see below for examples) – Blakeman said that Nassau County will lower flags at county operated buildings, but just for this Tuesday through Thursday.
These three days cover when President Carter lies in state, starting January 7th, until he is buried on the National Day of Mourning, January 9th.
Does anyone in Nassau County doubt that Bruce Blakeman would have lowered county flags starting December 29, 2024, if President Carter had been a Republican?
Garden City, New York, USA. April 1, 2023. At left Nassau County Executive BRUCE BLAKEMAN speaks at podium, as Nassau County Republican chairman JOSEPH CAIRO looks on, when Nassau County GOP hosts the Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis program on The Florida Blueprint at the Cradle of Aviation. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
* Examples of media coverage of Nassau County flags not being lowered for 30 days to commemorate Pres. Carter, who died Dec. 29, 2024:
New York Post – as of 12/16/2024, official newspaper of Nassau County (1)
– NO COVERAGE –
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Newsday – from 1940-12/15/2024, official newspaper of Nassau County (2)
1/6/2025 – “Flags to be lowered in Nassau in honor of Jimmy Carter”
facebook.com/newsday/posts/1001967205307862?comment_id=1369457664427116
Updated 1/3/2025 – “Nassau County buildings not lowering flags to half-staff in memory of former President Jimmy Carter”
newsday.com/long-island/politics/flag-half-staff-nassau-xiv0ip0w
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News 12 – Long Island
1/5, updated 1/6/2025 – “Nassau Executive: American flags at all county buildings will be lowered in honor of President Carter”
longisland.news12.com/nassau-executive-american-flags-at-all-county-buildings-will-be-lowered-in-honor-of-president-carter
1/4/2025 – “Some U.S. flags at Nassau buildings not at half-staff in honor of late President Carter”
hudsonvalley.news12.com/nassau-county-yet-to-lower-us-flags-to-honor-jimmy-carter
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AOL.com
Updated 1/4/2025 – “Nassau County flags not lowered to half-staff for Jimmy Carter”
aol.com/nassau-county-flags-not-lowered-031500935.html
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CBS New York
1/5/2025 – “Flags in Nassau County will soon be at half-staff to honor President Jimmy Carter”
youtube.com/watch?v=x8Is2JLRgYY
1/3/2025 – “Nassau County executive refuses to lower flags for late President Jimmy Carter”
cbsnews.com/newyork/video/nassau-county-executive-refuses-to-lower-flags-for-late-president-jimmy-carter/
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MSN.com
1/4/2025 – “Republican Allegedly Refusing To Lower Flags to Half-Staff Sparks Anger”
msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republican-allegedly-refusing-to-lower-flags-to-half-staff-sparks-anger/ar-AA1wWRps
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Newsweek
1/4/2025 – “Republican Allegedly Refusing To Lower Flags to Half-Staff Sparks Anger”
newsweek.com/republican-allegedly-refusing-lower-flags-half-staff-sparks-anger-2009662
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Patch.com
1/3/2025 – “Nassau County Flags Not Lowered To Honor Late President Carter”
patch.com/new-york/mineola/nassau-county-flags-not-lowered-honor-late-president-carter
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Pix11.com
1/3/2025 – “Nassau County executive refuses to fly flags at half-staff”
pix11.com/news/local-news/nassau-county-executive-refuses-to-fly-flags-at-half-staff/
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Yahoo News
1/5/2025 – “MAGA Official Finally Agrees to Lower Flags for Jimmy Carter After Dem Backlash”
yahoo.com/news/maga-official-finally-agrees-lower-001715771.html
(1) New York Post, Long Island: nypost.com/long-island
(2) Newsday, Long Island: newsday.com/long-island |partial list:
• Newsday, L.I. High School Sports: newsday.com/sports/high-school
• Newsday, L.I. restaurants: newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants
• Newsday, L.I. business: newsday.com/business
• Newsday, L.I. School & Education: newsday.com/long-island/education
• Newsday TV: tv.newsday.com
• Newsday in Education Program:
• newsday.com/newsday-in-education-jd1y6a18
• education@newsday.com
Mineola, NY, USA. January 6, 2025. Flags flying at Theodore Roosevelt Nassau County Executive and Legislative Building are not lowered to half mast during nationwide commemoration of President Jimmy Carter. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post): Mineola, New York, U.S. January 6, 2025. During snowy Monday, flags flying atop the Theodore Roosevelt Nassau County Executive and Legislative Building are not lowered to half mast during 30 Day commemoration of President Jimmy Carter.
