Firefighter suspended for refusing to peel American flag sticker from locker

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This tiny sticker of the American flag is at the center of a firefight between one firefighter and his department.

Updated at 5:27 PM EDT on Monday, Oct 19, 2009

Chester, Pa., firefighter James Krapf wants to know what's wrong with Old Glory. The 11-year veteran was suspended without pay Thursday after he refused to peel a sticker of the American flag from his locker.

"It's pride…it's a matter of pride," Krapf said.

Krapf: "It's a Matter of Pride"

A new department rule mandates that all stickers and statements -- union, cartoon and political -- be stripped from lockers after several offensive and racist images showed up in the firehouse. But Krapf figured the red, white and blue was safe.

It seems he was wrong.

Just Your Average Joe-Bama

"The chief came out and said 'You have to remove your stickers,' I said 'No disrespect chief, but I'm not taking the flag off,'" Krapf recounted. He says the officer then asked him to leave.

Krapf, who was turned away from the station again Friday, plans to stand his ground. "It's the American flag, we should be able to fly it wherever we want…I don’t believe it's offensive to anyone," he said.

The issue and Krapf's fate is scheduled to be discussed at a meeting on Monday.