A western Michigan man whose son was killed while serving in the military has burned a replica of New Jersey's flag to protest that state's decision to lower it in honour of performer Whitney Houston.

John Burri set the flag on fire last Saturday on a grill outside his home in Wyoming, near Grand Rapids.

The 60-year-old Burri says lowering flags should be done for men and women who have given their lives in service to the United States.

Army Specialist Eric Burri died in 2005 in Baghdad. Michigan flags were lowered in his honour.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie defended his decision to lower flags for Houston. Christie noted the 48-year-old icon was born in Newark and raised in nearby East Orange.

Houston died February 11 in Beverly Hills, California.