WWII vet battles homeowners group over flag issue

[Niels Bohr 72]

If the dude knew the policy, he needs to stfu or move out. Or join the HOA and make their lives hell

I agree. Make the HOA hell! Day in, and day out!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

If the dude knew the policy, he needs to stfu or move out. Or join the HOA and make their lives hell

I agree. Make the HOA hell! Day in, and day out!

There have been scarier things....like the kill dozer! Planning laws drove him to crazy town.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Heemeyer

[slim 1,533]

all great, but usually one does not know how much of a hitler the hoa is until they live there.

That's like saying, "I didn't know how bad prison was before I broke the law."

[_Simpson_ 250]

I think if this old guy violates homeowners association rules, he should face the same penalties everyone else does.

If you don't like your HOA then either move out, or change it!

I agree 210%, I'm all about flying old glory but rules are rules. If you buy a home with a HOA you follow the rules like everyone else, jeez if anyone should know the importance of following rules it should be this guy.

Edited December 5, 2009 by _Simpson_

[Ban Hammer 13,637]

all great, but usually one does not know how much of a hitler the hoa is until they live there.

That's like saying, "I didn't know how bad prison was before I broke the law."

not really a fair comparison. most people know not to break the law. a few in this thread didn't even know how evil hoa's are.

[Ban Hammer 13,637]

updates:

John K. Honey, who is part of Barfoot's pro-bono legal team, said the homeowner association's board told him Thursday that it would push the date back a week to Friday, Dec. 11, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., has gotten involved in the dispute in the hopes of coming to a settlement.

The American Legion also has joined Barfoot's fight.

link

this is what a real hero looks like, then

and now.

[natty bumppo 297]

updates:

John K. Honey, who is part of Barfoot's pro-bono legal team, said the homeowner association's board told him Thursday that it would push the date back a week to Friday, Dec. 11, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., has gotten involved in the dispute in the hopes of coming to a settlement.

The American Legion also has joined Barfoot's fight.

link

this is what a real hero looks like, then

and now.

We could see a HOA roll ...

[Dave and Helena 0]

AKA the Yard Nazis Edited December 5, 2009 by Dave and Helena

[Niels Bohr 72]

Nice one.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Just settle this over a beer at the white house.

[aidan80 9]

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.

link

When I came over here I heard about these home owners associations but didn't know what they were or what they did. After I found out I couldn't understand it. How can people live in an area and have other people in these associations tell them how they can park their cars or how tall their grass can be or what color they can paint their house. I thought isn't this America where you can do as you want without someone else having the power to put you down for it. I also discovered the other side of it was people that wanted to keep their area's nice, tidy and all perfect lol real life isn't square green grass and spotless footpaths! Personally I'd never live anywhere there's a homeowners association! I think after everything Barfoot went through in his life there shouldn't be any question of him flying his flag.

[Niels Bohr 72]

That's why living in those area is like living in a communistic society.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

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.

link

When I came over here I heard about these home owners associations but didn't know what they were or what they did. After I found out I couldn't understand it. How can people live in an area and have other people in these associations tell them how they can park their cars or how tall their grass can be or what color they can paint their house. I thought isn't this America where you can do as you want without someone else having the power to put you down for it. I also discovered the other side of it was people that wanted to keep their area's nice, tidy and all perfect lol real life isn't square green grass and spotless footpaths! Personally I'd never live anywhere there's a homeowners association! I think after everything Barfoot went through in his life there shouldn't be any question of him flying his flag.

America is also the place where you can sign your life away in a contract and its enforceable.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I wonder if this contract is enforceable.

"Failure to pay may result in damages to yourself, and possibly death. We reserve the right to make the judgment of life and death."

Humans are strange.

[slim 1,533]

I think after everything Barfoot went through in his life there shouldn't be any question of him flying his flag.

There isn't. There's a rule against him having a 21-ft. flagpole in his yard. The HOA said they don't have issue with the flag and he can still fly it on his house, just not on that huge eye-sore of a metal pole HOA violation in his yard.

This is not a flag-related issue even though everyone's making it out to be. This is an issue of HOAs having certain rules and someone breaking them. While I'm all for flying the biggest flag you can, I'm also for following the rules of your community and if you've chosen to live in a community that prohibits flagpoles in your yard... you can't have one. If you don't like that, then either move or work to get the rules changed. Or, fly it anyway and get your senator and the American Legion to get your back!