Viral video causing problems for City of Jacksonville, NC

JACKSONVILLE, NC (WWAY) — A viral video over a military flag controversy posted by the employee of a Jacksonville, Florida business has city leaders in Jacksonville, North Carolina scrambling to defend their military town.

According to Action News Jax in Florida, a man who works for a Jacksonville business shared a video after he says the city cited the business for flying military flags.

The man, who calls himself Shaun, posted the video of himself at Jaguar Power Sports Monday and said the city of Jacksonville cited the business for flying the military flags atop the building.

https://www.facebook.com/jaguarpowersport/videos/1726658027417565/

The man also claims the city employee insulated a veteran, who was shot three times serving overseas, allegedly telling him what he did for his country “didn’t matter.”

That veteran spoke exclusively with Action News Jax, but wanted to remain anonymous.

“I voiced my opinion that I was a veteran and I don’t appreciate it,” he said the CBS station.  “At that point, she turned to me and said, ‘Well, your opinion doesn’t really matter at this point.  I’m here to discuss this with the owner.”

Surveillance video of the encounter appears to show the city worker wag her finger at the veteran, before allegedly saying something this veteran said he will never forget.

“She turned around at the door and said to me, in a very loud voice that, what I did for this country did not matter,” he said.  “I was mad. I don’t take a lot of things personal. I really don’t, but that strikes a chord with me.”

Now, there are nationwide calls for discipline for that city employee.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has promised the city will ‘review employee procedures.’

The mayor also tweeted that he’s told staff to treat military flags the same as the US Flag.

Here in Jacksonville, North Carolina, the story is producing ire.

According to a news release from Jacksonville Assistant City Manager Glenn Hargett, they have received angry emails, phone calls, Facebook comments, Google comments and messages from people.

Irate messages to Jacksonville City Council began shortly after 7:00 p.m., when the video was posted and shared.

A Facebook message on the City of Jacksonville NC Government page indicated the misdirected anger. Phone calls were received in the City Manager’s Office this morning and emails flowed to the City Council. Highly negative reviews and sharply worded messages came to the City’s Facebook pages.

https://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleNC.gov/posts/1743134432391463

In the release, Hargett wrote, “Jacksonville NC is proud of our military. Our Freedom Fountain is dedicated to all who pass through our community in service to their nation. A significant flag garden, with all the service flags, proudly connects the Freedom Fountain to the Lejeune Memorial gardens, where monuments funded in part by the local governments, memorialize those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and those who served.”