NC State employee won't lower flags for Helms

[LynneSin]

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/State_employee_wont_lower_flags_for_0709.html

State employee won't lower flags for HelmsThe Associated Press
Published: Wednesday July 9, 2008


RALEIGH, N.C. -- A longtime North Carolina state employee has chosen to retire instead of lowering flags to honor former Republican Sen. Jesse Helms.

U.S. and state flags have been flying at half-staff since Gov. Mike Easley ordered them lowered after Helms died Friday.

L.F. Eason III told his staff at the state Standards Laboratory to ignore the directive. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that Eason sent workers an e-mail saying he didn't think it was appropriate to lower the flags because of Helms' "doctrine of negativity, hate, and prejudice