Florence Freedom: Worker not fired in flag flap

• Florence Freedom team President said he'd invite former employee back to fill previous position

Florence Freedom team president Clint Brown said he didn't fire a military veteran for pausing in his duties to salute the U.S. flag during the the singing of the national anthem.

Brown said he's frustrated at the mere suggestion he fired 69-year-old Tom Aue, and called the accusation a "smear campaign" in an email to The Enquirer.

"I'm not just gonna stand here and take this. We did not do anything wrong," Brown said in reference his team's disagreement with Aue regarding long-standing policy at the team's UC Health Stadium.

According to Brown, Aue paused his duties as ticket taker to salute during The Star-Spangled Banner prior to Saturday's game against the Frontier Greys.

Brown offered to move Aue to an auxiliary gate where he could observe the anthem at his leisure, but the two sides arrived at an impasse when the offer was refused, Brown said.

Aue's daughter, Allison Aue Schier, posted her father's version of the events in a Facebook post claiming Aue had been fired.

Brown said there is only one general admission gate at UC Health Stadium. The moments during the anthem usually see a high volume of ticket holders scurrying to get inside, Brown said. The person operating the turnstiles needs to continue working to allow fans to enter the park safely and efficiently, Brown said.

"We spoke with this employee again Sunday morning after his daughter launched this Facebook smear campaign and he acknowledges that other roles were offered to him. However, he is only willing to return if we change our policy at the front gate," Brown wrote in an email to The Enquirer.  

The policy of ticket takers continuing work during the anthem has been suspended for the team's three remaining home games in 2015, Brown said. The policy will be reviewed during the off-season.

Brown expects the review to yield a policy similar to what was in place prior to Saturday's game - one where ticket takers will focus on scanning tickets during the anthem.

"Frankly, this is not a case of an organization usurping an employee's right to honor America during the anthem," Brown saidl. "We were prepared to accommodate him by moving him to another gate so he could do what he pleased"

Aue hasn't responded to The Enquirer's request for comment, but Brown said he'd gladly invite Aue back to the team's operation in the right set of circumstances.

"He's an otherwise nice guy. I don't have any problems with the guy as an employee... I understand the reaction to this story, but I (have) one gate" at UC Health Stadium, Brown said.