New York Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt demanded an apology from Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday after the governor called on the public to honor COVID-19 frontline workers on Memorial Day, the federal holiday traditionally reserved to commemorate fallen military servicemembers.
Cuomo ordered flags throughout New York to be flown at half-staff this weekend from Sunday until noon on Monday in remembrance of frontline workers who died fighting the pandemic. Ortt, a military veteran, said the governor’s action was offensive and diminished a holiday set aside to honor soldiers who died in service to the country.
“I know apologies and contrition don’t come easy to him, but this is one area where it should. That is the right thing to clarify that this was a gross misstep,” Ortt said in an interview with Fox News. “Again, we should recognize the sacrifice that our essential workers and frontline workers paid during this pandemic, some with their lives, but there are plenty of other days…