THE FIVE STAR....SHERIFF?

In today's Orlando Sentinel, columnist Scott Maxwell writes that a number of readers noticed that Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary --- already under scrutiny for alleged impropriety --- was photographed wearing a cluster of five stars on his uniform. And some of the local military veterans aren't too happy about it.

After being elected to office, he wore four stars on his uniform as a number of his collegues do across the state. But after being selected as Florida Sheriff of the Year in 2003, a friend gave Beary the fifth star, which he has added in a cluster form per Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The sheriff's spokesman calls it "a matter of style". But Bob Koger, an past commander of one of Orlando's American Legion posts, sees it differently:

"Do not try to impress people by wearing or displaying the elite rank insignia or distinguished medals that should be reserved only for those individuals of our military who so courageously earned them during war conflicts to keep our nation free. To do otherwise is seen as a display of hypocrisy and total disrespect for our military heroes."