As Washington erupted over President Donald Trump's defiance of protocol to honor U.S. Sen. John McCain, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal quietly worked out his own way to commemorate the former presidential candidate's life.
Deal signed an executive order on Monday to fly flags at half-staff on state property through sunset when he’s interred on Sunday, following the standard operating procedure in Washington when a member of Congress dies.
Trump, who had long bitterly feuded with McCain, upended that tradition by flying the flag over the White House at full-staff on Monday morning.
By Monday afternoon, after outrage from the American Legion and others, the flag was back at half-staff and the president issued a statement offering his condolences to McCain’s family.
By then, he had also succeeded into turning McCain’s death into another political tempest.
The governor’s office took a starkly different approach toward the Arizona Republican. Deal, a former U.S. House lawmaker, said he was thankful to witness firsthand McCain’s “enduring patriotism” and outlined his accolades and military bravery in the executive order.
“This American hero will be missed,” Deal said, “but his lifetime of public service will long be remembered.”
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