South Carolina sheriff refuses to lower flag for Nelson Mandela

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Pickens County, South Carolina sheriff Rick Clark took to social media Friday to declare that he would defy President Obama’s orders to lower U.S. flags to half staff until sunset Monday in honor of Nelson Mandela.

The South African anti-apartheid leader died Thursday at the age of 95.

Clark posted to his Facebook page:

I usually don’t post political items, but today is different. I received this notification today, ‘As a mark of respect for the memory of Nelson Mandela, the President orders that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff effective immediately until sunset, December 9, 2013,'” Clark wrote. “Nelson Mandela did great things for his country and was a brave man but he was not an AMERICAN!!! The flag should be lowered at our Embassy in S. Africa, but not here.”

Clark said the flags at the Sheriff’s Office were at half staff Friday to mourn a deceased deputy. Clark said the flag would remain at half mast Saturday to mark Pearl Harbor Day. After that, he said, he “ordered that the flag here at my office back up [sic].

The S.C. sheriff eventually deleted the original post and replaced it with one saying:

Well the news/Facebook cycle has run its course. Time to move onto the next subject because I have work to do for my community and need to devote my time elsewhere. Thank you for your support and comments. I urge you to read about President Mandela over the next few days of mourning and be inspired for public service for your community and the nation as he was. It Pearl Harbor Day and thank a veteran today if you can [sic].

“The flag at half-staff is for Americans’ ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Clark told the Greenville News. “We should never stray away from that.”

Clark said he is a fan of Mandela and his accomplishments, but that the honor should be “reserved for Americans.”

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.