Latest Update: Lindsey Stone resigned from her job, November 21, 2012. Both her and Jamie Schuh are no longer are employed by LIFE. The employer issued the following on their facebook page,
Vandalization of our Veterans Memorials has been a problem for some time. If it wasn’t vandals then it was the ACLU, atheists, anti-war ilk and more and each has been met head on, in one way or another informing them that our Memorials are sacred and sit on hallowed ground. But, as the photo below shows, some take their disrespect too far.
This woman, identified as a Lindsey Stone who lives in Plymouth, Massachusetts and took the photo while on a company sponsored trip by her employer, LIFE- Living Independently Forever
The self proclaimed “Douchebag” tried to explain it away on twitter,
“Meant no disrespect?” Then what in the hell did she mean? What “authority” is she challenging standing next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the authority of our deceased Soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for her to be a “douchebag?”
And just who else would she be flipping off but the memory of those sacrificed their lives for our country? No, Ms. Stone, this is far different than smoking next to a No Smoking sign, likely far away from people.
Her employer left the following on their facebook page, as outraged Veterans and Patriots are flooding the page with negative comments.
“It has come to our attention that a member of LIFE staff has posted a photo on a personal facebook page that has upset others. This photo in no way reflects the opinions of LIFE staff members and/or anyone affiliated with our organization. We sincerely apologize for any offense that the photo may have caused and we are drafting an official apology to be released in the morning.”
Since the employers comment says “This photo in no way reflects the opinions of LIFE staff members and/or anyone affiliated with our organization,” and the photo was taken during an employer paid trip, I can only hope that means Ms. Stone and Ms. Schuh, who is said to have taken the photo are seeking more suitable employment.
After all, since the employer seems to be a retirement facility for seniors, there is a very good chance many aging Veterans reside there and if she disrespects the Nations Premier Veterans Memorial in such a way, I can only imagine the ill treatment she may give to those in her care.
Ms. Stone, you brought this on yourself as did the one who is said to have taken the photo, a co-worker named Jamie Schuh.
Maybe you will think about your disrespectful act standing in the unemployment line.
See also: For the Benefit of Lindsey Stone, Jamie Schuh and any Other Who Doesn’t Understand the Outrage
UPDATE 1: This morning, November 20, 2012 the employer issued the following on their facebook page
On Nov. 19 at approximately 6 p.m., we became aware that one of our employees had posted an offensive, inappropriate photograph on her personal Facebook page. The photo was taken at a national historic site in October by a fellow employee during a trip to Washington, D.C. attended by 40 residents and eight staff. The photo has since been removed from Facebook, and both employees have been placed on unpaid leave pending the results of an internal investigation.
This photograph in no way reflects the opinions or values of the LIFE organization, which holds our nation’s veterans in the highest regard. We are proud to have veterans serving on our staff and board of trustees, and we value their service. The men and women who have selflessly fought and sacrificed their lives to protect the rights and lives of Americans deserve our utmost respect and gratitude. We are acutely aware that this photo has done a disservice to veterans and we are deeply saddened that it was takenand shared in a public medium.
UPDATE 2: Some media have now picked up the story, including this one Lindsey Stone defends her controversial Tomb of the Unknown Soldier photo and sought out the ACLU on the matter, who says in part,
“Private companies have a lot more leeway under the law to fire or punish employees for their speech outside of work than do government employers. Either workers need to organize together to protect their speech outside of the office from employer reprisals, or they need to watch what they say online.”
Too bad they can’t tell people to not only watch what you say, but learn to show some respect for those who have given their lives for people to have the freedom to be jerks like Lindsey Stone and Jaime Shuh.
