Posted on 12/03/2009 11:17:07 AM PST by Mrs. Frogjerk
A veteran of three wars who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor is now facing an unlikely enemy — his neighbors.
Col. Van T. Barfoot, 90, has raised the Stars and Stripes every day at sunrise and lowered them every day at sunset since he served in the U.S. Army. But on Tuesday he received a letter from the law firm that represents his homeowners' association, ordering him to remove the flagpole from his Richmond, Va. yard by 5 p.m. on Friday or face "legal action."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The homeowners Association acn stick it as far as I am concerned.
Way to thank a veteran for their service!
Another post had contact info. I called and told them this veteran fought for the right to fly that flag, and have a flagpole to do it, and to leave him alone!
Many HOAs are breeding grounds for Control Freak Liberal Elite types, beware the nosy neighbor.
BTT!
Colonel Van T. Barfoot has been featured on Free Republic at least once before:
Freeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Van Thomas Barfoot ~ 10 August 09
He moved into the Association knowing the rules and is forcing the issue - I am sure a flag on his townhome would have been fine but he installed a freestanding 21 foot pole on someone else’s (community) property.
He has to take some of the blame here.
My husband and I live in a community with a homeowner’s association. I am praying this veteran prevails. Good luck to him.
Is it really any wonder why the democrats have absolutely NOTHING in common with the American people?
His yard is “community property”?? I knew some goose-stepper would show up defending these fascist HOA.
Until the Obama administration... homeowners associations were the only true fascists organizations in the U.S.A. Now Mr. Barfoot, MOH recipient and true American hero once again must do battle with fascists! And as before, I suspect he will prevail! God bless him!!!
Grow up people. Some very patriotic war heroes are pricks.
From the article it appears he built a flagpole on property he does not own.
It also appears he is allowed to hang his flag, as other resident do, from his own property.
Just curious, if kids are running and playing in this previously open area and run into this newly installed pole-who would be legally responsible?
I’m sure the definition of community property was spelled out for anyone who bought there in the vast array of documents presented at closing. That someone is prevented from displaying the flag is pretty disturbing. Nonetheless - the error is in the headline referring to “his yard”. Evidently, like a lot of condominiums - there is no land area that goes, in fee simple, along with the unit. So it’s not “his yard”.
YEP.....when you BUY into a “community” with an HOA....YOU KNOW DA*N well who owns what.....YOU own ONLY the walls of your unit from the inside (usually including the sheetrock).....that’s it.....everything else is joint ownership of one form or another.
homeonwer associations are little more hten small communist government at street level.
If he doesn’t actually own the yard, then you’re right. I assumed it was his property.
Well, actually, there is apparently no rule against flags or flagpoles. Just vague rules against eyesores. Is a flagpole an eyesore? They are pretty traditional in our country.
As someone pointed out on an earlier thread, this could probably be shot down in court, as an ex post facto change in the rules. But it would take money for a lawyer to defend him.
If the Association goes ahead and sues, I expect they will lose. But it will be expensive for all concerned--and very silly, not to say unpatriotic.
In my Association I have a flag on my house. I have been on a Board and Board President for many years - Boards are neighbors and we don’t like problems or bad feelings with our neighbors either.
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