Former Bank of American Branch Manager Speaks Through Attorney

He says her employer threw her "under the bus". The attorney for a Bank of America manager says she was just following policy when she removed American flags in front of the bank's Gaffney branch last month, and she wants the bank to stand behind that. The flags had been placed there for the funeral procession of fallen marine Chris Fowlkes on September 16th. They were replaced in time for the procession and Bank of America later apologized for what it called a "mistunderstanding."

On Monday, the attorney for that branch manager, Brandy Tate, who has been silent until now, held a press conference, surrounded by about thirty supporters, outside the Bank of America branch in Gaffney. Charles Bonner said the bank asked Tate to "remain silent." He also said Tate has received hate mail and even death threats from people accusing her of being unpatriotic. Bonner says Tate is from a family of military serviceman and that she's being unfairly targeted, "because she followed the explicit policy of bank of America. The bank has thrown her under the bus and has used her as a scapegoat claiming she quote, misunderstand bank policy, unquote." However, in Bonner’s statement, he indicated the bank's policy says certain flags can be flown with approval from consumer market management; but he says Tate did not ask for permission because she did not know the reason why they were put there.

Tate is still a Bank of America employee, but no longer works at the branch in Gaffney. The Fowlkes family had no comment in response to the press conference.

Bank of America says it stands behind its earlier statement, but had no comment on the press conference, nor would they comment on policies relating to flags. However, according to Nicole Nastacie, on behalf of Media Relations for Bank of America, "We want the community to know how deeply proud we are of the men and women who have sacrificed so much in service to our country. We are sorry that this incident has in any way taken away from the focus on their service to our country. The bank does fly the American flag at many of our locations throughout the country, and we encourage our banking centers to display the U.S. flag if a flag pole exists at that location. We deeply apologize for any misunderstandings. We do not have any additional comment beyond what has been shared previously."

***Updated Monday October 5, 11:55 a.m.***

The former Bank of American Branch Manager in Gaffney will have a news conference Monday Afternoon.

Her attorney says it is Brandy Tate's Opportunity to tell her side of the story.

Bank of America says a miscommunication in corporate policy led tate to remove American flags that were placed on the bank's property lining the road to honor Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes.

The news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday.

We will bring you more on the air and online at wspa.com.

***Updated Saturday October 3, 10:39 p.m.***

On a cloudless October Saturday, thunder rumbled through Cherokee County, the sound produced by more than 200 motorcyles -- a rolling tribute to a fallen Marine.

Members of the Patriot Guard, Rolling Thunder, and other veteran motorcylists rode from Quantico, VA, to Gaffney, SC, to honor Lance Corporal Chris Fowlkes.

"Christopher never would have expected all this. I surely didn't expect all this," said Steve Fowlkes, Chris's father.

Lance Cpl. Fowlkes, 20, died last month after being injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Saturday's procession of motorcycles was prompted by something that happened during Fowlkes' funeral procession two weeks ago. A manager at Bank of America on Floyd Baker Boulevard removed American flags from the roadside in front of the bank. The flags had been placed there in honor of Fowlkes since his procession traveled along that route. The move created a public outcry against Bank of America and the story received national attention.

Which is what prompted Greg Harrington, a former Marine from Virginia, to take action.

"When I heard the story, I really did literally drop to my knees and say 'Lord, what are we gonna do? We gotta do something'," said Harrington.

He says he sent emails to Patriot Guard and Rolling Thunder chapters in the Virginia area, asking them to organize a ride to Gaffney, and the idea just gained steam.

"This thing came together in four days," said Harrington.

He said when the group left Quantico Saturday morning, they had only 7 motorcycles and a few vehicles, but as the convoy moved down the interstate, it picked up momentum as more riders joined the group in every city.

"It was amazing to see bikers coming off the exit ramps to join us," said Harrington. The group rolled into Gaffney around 5:45pm, more than 200 strong. They brought with them an American flag and a U.S. Marine flag from the Marine Corps National Museum in Quantico. The flags were presented to Fowlkes' family during an emotional ceremony at Cherokee County's Veterans Museum.

Fowlkes' mother, Donna, says her son would have been proud to see the outpouring of support from strangers.

"He would have wanted to make sure that it's for every military person that's fighting, dying, and still wanting to join the military to fight for their country," said Donna Fowlkes.

She and her husband have seen their son's death unite Gaffney in a way they would have never imagined.

"To see them all come out, I think he would just be so proud of how everybody has come together as a family and a town," said Donna Fowlkes.

Charlotte-based Bank of America has repeatedly apologized for the flags being removed, calling it a "misunderstanding". Steve Fowlkes said today he is ready to move past the controversy and focus on the sacrifices being made by military members.

Click the video tab above to see Chris Cato's story on the bikers' tribute.

***Updated Friday, October 2, 11:51 a.m.***

Members of the motorcycle group "Rolling Thunder" will travel to Gaffney as part of "Operation Flagpole" in honor of a fallen marine from the Upstate, according to the Gaffney Ledger.

The ride begins today in Quantico, Virginia and will end at the proposed site of the Cherokee County Veterans Museum Tomorrow for a service honoring Lance Corporal Chris Fowlkes.

Fowlkes was killed in Afghanistan.

"Rolling Thunder" will also be collecting signatures from veterans and others along the route.

***Updated Friday, September 25, 2:30 p.m.***

A handful of people began protesting outside the Gaffney branch of Bank of America Friday afternoon. The protestors are upset over flags that were removed and later were put back honoring Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes.

***Updated Friday, September 25, 1:15 p.m.***
A Bank of America spokesman tells News Channel 7 reporter Elizabeth Owens the branch manager who was working at the Gaffney bank at the time of the flag removal no longer works there. The spokesman also says for privacy reasons they cannot comment further on the employee who removed the flags.

***Updated Friday, September 25, 11:59 a.m.***

An Upstate man says he plans to protest outside a Bank of America Branch in Gaffney Friday afternoon.

***Updated Friday, September 25, 11:47 a.m.***

The South Carolina State Treasurer says he considered pulling millions of state dollars from Bank of America but changed his mind.

It all started last week when a Bank of America employee removed american flags from a branch in Gaffney.

The flags were placed there for the funeral procession of fallen Marine Chris Fowlkes.

When the community voiced its anger the bank said it was all a "miscommunication."

In response, Cherokee County Council voted Monday night to close its accounts with Bank of America.

Thursday, State Treasurer Converse Chellis said he was disappointed by the situation and considered pulling money from the bank as well saying, "Although I briefly felt the inclination to pull the over $125 million in cash our office has on deposit in the bank, I knew that the bank had realized its actions were inappropriate and correct [sic] the mistake."

For Immediate Release: September 24, 2009

(Columbia, SC)…Recently a Bank of America branch in Gaffney, South Carolina removed from a sidewalk American Flags that had been placed there by a private citizen in honor of a fallen American Soldier. The bank was on the route of the soldier’s funeral procession and citizens were marking the route to honor the soldier. They later replaced the flags.

Treasurer Chellis' statement:
“The decision to remove the American Flags by the bank was a poor one. I respect the American Flag as a symbol of our country and all that it stands for. I respect the men and women who fight under the Flag. And I respect the soldiers who gave the last true measure of devotion to protect and defend it.

Our soldiers are fighting to protect the American way of life, and a company with the word America in its name ought to be especially sensitive to the idea of liberty and patriotism.

Even though this may seem like a small issue, it’s extremely important to me. My father served in the U.S. Army during WWII and I served in the U.S. Air Force. I respect the American Flag and all that it symbolizes.

A moment that really impacted me occurred a couple of years ago at memorial dedicated at The Citadel. It was placed there in honor of two graduates who lost their lives in Vietnam. They were my best friends and teammates on the Citadel football team. Their lives were cut short and they never got to experience all the joys that life offers. We must not forget that freedom is never free.

My heart goes out to the family of Marine Lance Cpl. Chris Fowlkes and I hope the bank’s actions do not in any way reflect negatively on the proud and patriotic citizens of Gaffney or the State of South Carolina.

As State Treasurer, I deal with scores of banks and billions of dollars. Although I briefly felt the inclination to pull the over $125 million in cash our office has on deposit in the bank, I knew that the bank had realized its actions were inappropriate and correct the mistake.

Some say that patriotism is on the wane and that we are a country in decline. I disagree. Wherever there is an American Flag, there is hope. God bless the soldiers who have died to protect freedom. God Bless our troops currently in harms way. And may God continue to bless the United States of America."

Scott M. Malyerck
Deputy State Treasurer
State of South Carolina

***Updated Monday, September 21, 10:26 p.m.***

The Cherokee County Council voted Monday night to close its accounts with Bank Of America.

According to our coverage partners at the Spartanburg Herald Journal, the move comes nearly a week after the bank said a miscommunication in corporate policy led a local branch worker to remove American flags that were placed on the Bank's property lining the road to honor the death of fallen Marine Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes.

The flags were down for a short period of time and the placed back up in time for the arrival of Fowlkes' body.

Bank Of America says a miscommunication in corporate policy led a local branch worker to remove American flags that were placed on the Bank's property lining the road Wednesday to honor Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes. The flags were down for a short period of time.

Bank of America released this statement: "We want to ensure the community knows how deeply proud we are of the men and women who have sacrificed so much in service to our country. The bank does fly the American Flag at our locations throughout the country and flags were displayed in front of our banking center in Gaffney the evening prior to our dedicated Marine returning home. We deeply apologize for any misunderstandings. "

Flags have been up since Tuesday and will stay up through the memorial Friday.