WWII vet battles homeowners group over flag issue

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

RICHMOND, VA. — A 90-year-old Army veteran who won the Medal of Honor during World War II is battling his neighborhood association for what he says is his right to fly the American flag from a pole in his front yard.

Col. Van T. Barfoot says he erected the 21-foot flagpole in September, raising the flag daily at sunrise and retiring it at sunset.

The Sussex Square homeowners' association told him recently that the free-standing pole violates the townhouse neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines and ordered him to remove it by 5 p.m. Friday or face a lawsuit.

"I don't have any qualms with their authority, but the thing about it is that I cannot get enough conversation out of them where we can try to work out a solution," Barfoot said Wednesday in a telephone interview.

The homeowners' association said they denied a previous request by Barfoot to erect the flagpole, but he put it up it anyway, according to a statement issued by its lawyer Sandy Bowen. The statement says Barfoot can display an American flag, as long as it's in a way that conforms with association rules.

"This is not about the American flag. This is about a flagpole," reads the statement.

Barfoot, who moved into his townhouse in June, won his medal for actions near Carano, Italy, in 1944 and is one of about 90 surviving Medal of Honor winners. He also won the Purple Heart and other decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the service in 1974.

"I've flown the flag at my home as long as I can remember," said Barfoot, who lived in rural Amelia County before moving to suburban Richmond. "This is the first time in the last 36 years that I've been unable to put my flag up on the same pole, the same staff and take it down when it's time to come down."

Neighbors largely have expressed their support, but he realizes that ultimately it's up to the nine-member association board whether they will grant an exception to the rules.

"Emotional torture is what they've done to my father," said his daughter, Margaret Nicholls. "He has lost sleep, he worries about it constantly. He just doesn't understand. He thinks that if it's on his property they can't tell him what to do."

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[Nagishkaw 510]

GTFO! This is beyond silly! Why are people so pissy?

[Joseph & Ana 0]

They hate America.

[Dave and Helena 0]

WASHINGTON, Dec 04, 2009 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ ----'We will pay his legal bills if necessary,' says National Commander

The American Legion has joined the fight being waged by a Medal of Honor recipient against a Virginia homeowner association's demands to remove a flagpole.

Col. Van Barfoot, 90, a World War II and Vietnam veteran, was ordered by the Sussex Square Homeowner's Association to remove the flag pole from his front lawn after he flew the U.S. Flag on Labor Day and Veterans Day. The association is claiming that the flag pole is not "aesthetically appropriate."

"The association underestimated the fight left in this elderly veteran and now they have to contend with the determination and persistence of Col. Barfoot's 2.5 million friends in The American Legion," said National Commander Clarence E. Hill. "Col. Barfoot has hired legal counsel. The American Legion is prepared to help with the expenses and fight these disgraceful actions by the association. Where is the common sense here? Is this anyway to treat any American, much less a true hero like Col. Barfoot?"

Fighting for the flag is not new to The American Legion, the nation's leading authority on flag etiquette. Since 1989, The Legion has been fighting for a constitutional amendment that would grant Congress the authority to protect Old Glory from desecration.

"The flag is a symbol of our country," Hill said. "People should fly it proudly. That's all Col. Barfoot wants to do. If he were desecrating the flag, instead, the association couldn't do a thing to stop him. We proudly stand with Col. Barfoot and say 'enough already!' Let him keep the flagpole and fly the flag as often as he wants. He certainly earned that right."

"What the association is doing is especially disgraceful given the fact that our president has ordered another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in defense of our freedom," added Joseph Caouette, The American Legion's Chairman of Americanism. "I wonder what they think of all of this."

With a current membership of 2.5-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

Media contacts: Washington - Marty Callaghan (202) 861-2700, Cell (317) 445-3029; Indianapolis - Joe March or John Raughter (317) 630-1253, Cell (317) 441-8847/ (317) 748-1926. A high resolution photo of National Commander Hill is available at www.legion.org.

SOURCE American Legion

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/legion-su...fight-flagpole/

Isn't it wonderful to live in the land of the free, well, if you don't live in a neighborhood with a homeowner's association. Don't even get me started.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I don't understand. Okay, you own the property and the house because you paid for it. But, the homeowner associations own them as well without paying for it?

[lostinblue 1,989]

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

I don't think they should get him mad

[thongd4me 69]

RICHMOND, VA. — A 90-year-old Army veteran who won the Medal of Honor during World War II is battling his neighborhood association for what he says is his right to fly the American flag from a pole in his front yard.

Col. Van T. Barfoot says he erected the 21-foot flagpole in September, raising the flag daily at sunrise and retiring it at sunset.

The Sussex Square homeowners' association told him recently that the free-standing pole violates the townhouse neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines and ordered him to remove it by 5 p.m. Friday or face a lawsuit.

"I don't have any qualms with their authority, but the thing about it is that I cannot get enough conversation out of them where we can try to work out a solution," Barfoot said Wednesday in a telephone interview.

The homeowners' association said they denied a previous request by Barfoot to erect the flagpole, but he put it up it anyway, according to a statement issued by its lawyer Sandy Bowen. The statement says Barfoot can display an American flag, as long as it's in a way that conforms with association rules.

"This is not about the American flag. This is about a flagpole," reads the statement.

Barfoot, who moved into his townhouse in June, won his medal for actions near Carano, Italy, in 1944 and is one of about 90 surviving Medal of Honor winners. He also won the Purple Heart and other decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the service in 1974.

"I've flown the flag at my home as long as I can remember," said Barfoot, who lived in rural Amelia County before moving to suburban Richmond. "This is the first time in the last 36 years that I've been unable to put my flag up on the same pole, the same staff and take it down when it's time to come down."

Neighbors largely have expressed their support, but he realizes that ultimately it's up to the nine-member association board whether they will grant an exception to the rules.

"Emotional torture is what they've done to my father," said his daughter, Margaret Nicholls. "He has lost sleep, he worries about it constantly. He just doesn't understand. He thinks that if it's on his property they can't tell him what to do."

link

BEEP BEEP!

Damn I just went through the Richmond airport and they detected that minaret I always keep in my pocket...

dang.

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

I don't think they should get him mad

good point. on the bright side, maybe that army of lawyers assaulting his position won't be missed

[justashooter 430]

my mother's father made acting sergeant in france in dec 1944. he said he made acting sgt because the platoon Lts were wounded and the sgts were dead. his platoon was down to 26 fighting men at that time, with casualties over 50%. he received 2 purples and a bronze and silver before coming home in 1946. he was shot in the abdomen in september 1944, and hit by a grenade in january 1945, both times being returned to the lines within a few weeks.

his silver was related to a firefight in which he and three other men held off a company of germans with BAR and a GPMG while a field hospital unit they were in was evacuated during the battle of the bulge. he had been in it for treatment of a concussion, and those four men were the only beds anywhere near fit to fight. his bronze was a company citation from earlier action. as a fluent german speaker born to immigrant parents who escaped the anti-jewish pogroms preceeding the first war he was called upon to interrogate prisoners taken for information in the dead of night from behind enemy lines. he remarked that the interrogations were sometimes less than polite, but that the rules had changed a bit after the news of malmedy.

len rarely spoke about his time in europe. he talked about days in sweltering box cars and in ice filled trenches. he talked about the bad food, the grateful french, and the other men that survived. he said that only 6 men from his platoon made it from the first days on the beaches at normandy to the cessation of hostilities. the rest of his platoon in may of 1946 were replacements.

len liked to tell stories about the fellow from tenessee who couldn't write, but could shoot the hair of a dog's fleas across a 400 yard ravine. this guy could start a fire in a pouring rain, squeeze off single shots with a full auto BAR, and make just about anybody laugh just about anytime. he was one of the few that made it thru. i never knew his name.

[SMR 368]

my mother's father made acting sergeant in france in dec 1944. he said he made acting sgt because the platoon Lts were wounded and the sgts were dead. his platoon was down to 26 fighting men at that time, with casualties over 50%. he received 2 purples and a bronze and silver before coming home in 1946. he was shot in the abdomen in september 1944, and hit by a grenade in january 1945, both times being returned to the lines within a few weeks.

his silver was related to a firefight in which he and three other men held off a company of germans with BAR and a GPMG while a field hospital unit they were in was evacuated during the battle of the bulge. he had been in it for treatment of a concussion, and those four men were the only beds anywhere near fit to fight. his bronze was a company citation from earlier action. as a fluent german speaker born to immigrant parents who escaped the anti-jewish pogroms preceeding the first war he was called upon to interrogate prisoners taken for information in the dead of night from behind enemy lines. he remarked that the interrogations were sometimes less than polite, but that the rules had changed a bit after the news of malmedy.

len rarely spoke about his time in europe. he talked about days in sweltering box cars and in ice filled trenches. he talked about the bad food, the grateful french, and the other men that survived. he said that only 6 men from his platoon made it from the first days on the beaches at normandy to the cessation of hostilities. the rest of his platoon in may of 1946 were replacements.

len liked to tell stories about the fellow from tenessee who couldn't write, but could shoot the hair of a dog's fleas across a 400 yard ravine. this guy could start a fire in a pouring rain, squeeze off single shots with a full auto BAR, and make just about anybody laugh just about anytime. he was one of the few that made it thru. i never knew his name.

This kind of reminds me of the movie second hand lions. Good movie.

[NickD 203]

I also do not feel this has anything to do with his service record or the American Flag, but deals with all of the ridiculous building codes and ordinances even a small sub-division may have. This is the first thing you have to check before moving or thinking about buying a home. And all of these crazy places have a group of elders making the rules, they are elders because they purchased home two weeks before you did.

Daughter ran into that, buying a very nice looking home, but was forbidden to even put up a small fence at the rear of her home by a patio door so her kids could go out and play. Concerned about them wandering out into the street, but their code was zero fences, no ifs ands or buts about it. After a short them, she sold and purchased a home where she could build a fence.

I went into a subdivision with two acre lots, and was told, I could buy a home, but my motorhome had to go, screw you. Another didn't want kids in the neighborhood, well screw you to. Maybe would have better luck if I was black moving into a all white neighborhood, but a lot of places work around that as well.

Been meaning to buy a flag pole to display that beautiful 5 by 7 sewn made in the USA flag I got for my wife through my senators office that was flown over the congressional building in her honor when she became a USC. But somehow, this summer came and went and I didn't get around to it. But at least where I live, I can do that. Even have my motorhome parked along side of my garage as do several of my neighbors. And yes, I can have a fence and kids.

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

the rules had changed a bit after the news of malmedy.

i wonder how many remember that

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Homeowner Associations are another layer on top of local planning laws. They make sense when you have a private street w/ lighting because only they can maintain both. IMO alot of these associations have become nearly facist. Its one thing to make sure that someone's property doesn't become a dumping ground for auto parts. Its another when they start stopping people from having decorations, flags, or even clothes lines.

We sometimes do residential properties (especially now with the market) and its funny how these associations have to see the designs for approval. You end up dealing with some guy who's idea of design is a standard house with white picket fence and yet he claims to have architectural and planning knowledge.

Unfortunately, in most cases your locked into a contract with your mortgage and they are enforceable.

[Dave and Helena 0]

Its another when they start stopping people from having decorations, flags, or even clothes lines.

Don't forget what colors you can paint your house, which dog breeds are allowed (no rottweilers, dobermans or pit bulls in our neighborhood but the nasty small dogs are free to charge and bark at people), no empty flower pots, no air conditioning units in the windows and they also tell you which flags you can fly (American, sports and holiday flags are fine but not flags of other nations) etc.

"Lucky" for me Dave is on the board. I like to keep my friends close but my enemies closer.

[scandal 951]

I used to live in a HOA-governed townhouse association.

Never gonna do that again.

Owning a single detached property is the only way to go, for me.