Veteran battles homeowners group on flag issue

[unhappycamper]

Veteran battles homeowners group on flag issue
By Zinie Chen Sampson - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Dec 2, 2009 20:53:08 EST

RICHMOND, Va. — A 90-year-old Army veteran who earned the Medal of Honor during World War II is battling his homeowners’ association for the right to fly the American flag from a pole in his front yard.

Col. Van Barfoot says he erected the flagpole in September. The homeowners’ association at his suburban Richmond subdivision told him that the free-standing pole violates aesthetic guidelines and ordered him to remove the structure or face a lawsuit.

Barfoot earned his medal for actions in Italy in 1944 and is one of about 90 surviving Medal of Honor recipients. He’s also been awarded the Purple Heart and other decorations.

Neighbors have expressed their support, but ultimately it’s up to the nine-member association board on whether they will grant an exception to the rules.


Article at:http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_vetaran_flag_120209w/

[WhiteTara]

1. we're proud of him, but I agree

with the homeowners association. I love my country, but don't like seeing flags flying all the time. Usually they are left out all the time and are very ratty looking, which I find disrespectful.

[PavePusher]

2. Then you change the flag...

not get rid of the flag pole. Baby/bath water, anyone?

[westerebus]

3. Second time around.

It was two, maybe three years ago, some one else tried this in the Richmond area. Most developments have covenants (home owner association contracts) that required the homeowner to keep the grass cut, bans parking cars in the front yard, no trash burning, and no flag poles.

The main idea is to keep the home values at par in the neighborhood by keeping things neat in appearance. He should have looked at the home owner's covenants. If it said no flag poles, it means no flag poles.

The other reason to limit flag poles is to not piss off your neighbors. Think Confederate flag for the Robert E Lee-Martin Luther King holiday in January.

I live south of the riv-ah'.