Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale hands out flags to place on veterans’ graves at Saint Matthews Cemetery in Conshohocken on May 17.
The tension between Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale and his two-majority colleagues came to a head on Monday afternoon, when Commissioner Chair Dr. Valerie Arkoosh admonished Gale for not wearing a mask or observing social distancing guidelines while distributing American flags at Saint Matthews Cemetery on Saturday.
Following Commissioner Ken Lawrence Jr. testing positive for COVID-19 on Mother’s Day, officials went into self-isolation due to their direct exposure and underwent testing. The following day, Gale stated that he had declined to be tested, and thought the tests should be saved for those who are symptomatic.
“Thankfully, I am young, and I feel healthy,” Gale said. “In my opinion, we should leave the testing kits for people that are symptomatic, or those who have household contacts that have underlying conditions and individuals that are more likely to end up hospitalized if they were to contract COVID-19.”
On Saturday, Gale joined community members and members of the Conshohocken VFW in distributing and placing American flags on the graves of fallen veterans at Saint Matthews Cemetery. Gale said the event was held in response to commissioners’ Arkoosh and Lawrence refusing to release flags for countywide distribution for Memorial Day.
“It was a very humbling experience to see neighbors come together to honor local heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Gale said.
In video coverage of the event provided by 6ABC, Gale is seen distributing flags without wearing a mask or gloves, at distances closer than the recommended six-feet of separation. Those actions drew the ire of Arkoosh, who addressed the issue at the end of Monday’s press conference.
“I am putting on my doctor hat when I say the following: Commissioner Gale is known to have had direct exposure to someone who is confirmed positive with COVID-19—our colleague, Commissioner Lawrence—who, thankfully has remained asymptomatic,” said Arkoosh. “Commissioner Gale has publicly-stated that he refuses to be tested, and I have no evidence that he has been tested. During the event that he just described to you, Commissioner Gale was at this event, he did not have a mask on, he was personally handing them flags with no gloves on and closer than six feet.”
Arkoosh added that her commentary was not about veterans or a lack of respect for veterans; rather, she believed that Gale should be in quarantine due to his direct exposure to a positive case.
“I just want to urge others not to copy this type of behavior,” said Arkoosh.
Gale immediately responded, stating that he would not be bullied for honoring veterans.
“Commissioner Arkoosh, you can mask shame me all you want, but I’m not going to sit here and be bullied for honoring fallen veterans,” Gale said. “It’s enough already with the mask shaming, the mask bullying and creating mass hysteria. You don’t need a hazmat suit, gloves and a mask to put down American flags outdoors at a cemetery.”
Gale said that he has been clear that people should exercise their own judgement in wearing masks, and he is not going to tell people when or when not to wear one. Gale added that he was outdoors in a wide-open space, and he did not feel that a mask was necessary.
“This lecture we received today from Commissioner Arkoosh about the virtues of mandatory mask wearing is a passive-aggressive shot at me for honoring veterans at Saint Matthews Cemetery this past weekend…and doing so without a mask,” Gale said. “I was there to honor the dead and their families, not to stage a publicity stunt to show how politically correct I am.”
In reiterating his stance, Gale said that healthcare workers and long-term care employees are the ones who really need PPE. He also stated that he is unaware of any individual who had direct contact with Lawrence that later tested positive for the coronavirus.
“That was an uncalled-for cheap shot, and it is an attempt to scare the residents of Montgomery County,” Gale said. “And I know the residents of Montgomery County have had enough of all this nonsense.”
The next county press conference is scheduled for May 19 at 3 p.m. Press conferences can be viewed live on Facebook by clicking here.
See also:
Report: Montgomery County Commissioner Ken Lawrence Jr. Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Out Of Work, Out Of Options: A Lansdale Dog-Groomer's Tale
From The Frontlines: Interview With Volunteer Medical Service Corps Chief Of Operations
Local Nurse Who Lived In Tent To Protect Family Tests Positive For Coronavirus
