Ken Adams, mayor of Olive Branch, Mississippi.
He described the singer as a “great person” who brought happiness to millions and made major contributions to others during her life. He said he believed the practice should generally be used to honour military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents, other major national leaders or events that have had a major impact on the country. Adams said repeatedly lowering the flag whenever a prominent or widely loved person dies could eventually reduce the significance of the gesture itself. Adams said local authorities should not simply disregard decisions made by the president or governor, but argued that Mississippi’s home-rule system gives local governments broad discretion in matters concerning their own communities. “I also don’t believe residents elected me to be a ‘salute and execute’ Mayor but to lead with conviction,” Adams said. He said he respected her and did not question her standing as an American. Another commenter said: “She did more for children than any politician ever has.
The mayor stressed that his position was not motivated by politics or disrespect for Parton. One user wrote: “There’s only one Dolly Parton. She wasn’t just your common ‘celebrity’. She was the kind of person that everyone should focus on trying to be like. The world would be a better place if so! Would it have killed you to lower the flag for a day or two in her honor? I’m so glad I moved to East Tennessee! That should raise her status in your eyes from ‘just a celebrity’.”
Mayor Ken Adams addressed the issue in a Facebook post on Friday, while making clear that his position was not intended as a criticism of Parton.