He gave a wink and a wave to the new Commander-in-Chief at the Inaugural Parade.  But now this drum major is paying a price for those seemingly trivial gestures.

John Coleman, a proud member of the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums, has been suspended for six months from the band for breaching protocol.

"Feelings are hurt on both sides and this will probably be the end of me being in the pipe band," Coleman tells INSIDE EDITION.

The parade was in full swing as Coleman's band approached the reviewing stand on Pennsylvania Avenue.

"I made eye contact, and that's when I acknowledged the President of the United States," he continues.

The tune the band was playing was "God Bless America," and Coleman winked and gave a nod of the head and then a quick wave.

But the band spokesman was quoted as saying, "We had gone over and over time and again with everyone in the band that this was a military parade.  Protocol and proper decorum had to be followed at all times.  Unfortunately, John chose to ignore that."

Even sneaking a glimpse of the First Family was forbidden, the spokesman said, adding that other pipe bands complained about Coleman's gesture.

Coleman says he doesn't want the fuss to reflect badly on his band.

"If I embarrassed anybody I am sorry for it, but I just acknowledged the President," he says.

UPDATE, 1/28/09: Two days after INSIDE EDITION first reported John Coleman's breach of conduct at the Inaugural Parade, the drum major has come forward saying he has resigned from the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums. Coleman says the reason for his resignation was the increased publicity. He did not want anymore embarrassment between the band and himself.