A Texas preacher raised the American flag back to full staff at the Borger Post Office on Sunday, defying President Donald Trump's order to lower flags in honor of country music icon Dolly Parton. The preacher, David Grisham, stated that such honors should be reserved exclusively for military service members.
Trump issued a proclamation on August 25 directing U.S. flags at federal buildings, military installations, and embassies to fly at half-staff through sunset on September 1 in memory of Parton, who died at age 80. Grisham, however, argued that Parton had not served in the U.S. government and that the honor was inappropriate.
"Many of our troops don't get this honor," Grisham said in a video posted to Facebook. "This flag should have been flown at top mast, not half-mast, for Dolly Parton."
Grisham's protest was not the only instance of an official rejecting the order. Ken Adams, the Republican mayor of Olive Branch, Mississippi, also refused to lower the American flag. Adams cited Mississippi's Home Rule law, which grants cities authority over their internal affairs, and stated that mayors should use their own judgment.
"In my opinion, it should be reserved for our military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents and other major national leaders, or events that have had a tremendous impact on our country," Adams wrote on the city's Facebook page.
Parton had a history of supporting U.S. troops, including performing for service members and hosting a broadcast for troops in Iraq. Grisham has previously engaged in other controversial protests, including dressing as the Grinch outside an elementary school in November 2023 to protest the idea of Santa Claus.