Let's send him a few bucks for a second flag pole and new flag to fly along side our colors.
Posted on 12/05/2009 1:34:25 PM PST by StarCMC
Col. Van T. Barfoot, a local Medal of Honor recipient, is under the gun from his Henrico County community's homeowner association.
In a five-paragraph letter to Barfoot that he received yesterday, Barfoot is being ordered to remove a flagpole from his yard. The decorated veteran of three wars, now 90 years old, raises the American flag every morning on the pole, then lowers and folds the flag at dusk each day in a three-corner military fashion.
...
There is no provision in the community's rules expressly forbidding flagpoles, Barfoot's daughter said. But she said the board ruled against her father's fixture and ordered it removed in July, deciding that free-standing flag poles are not aesthetically appropriate. Short flag stands attached to porches dot the community.
"Dad sort of feels like this is the end," said Margaret Nicholls, Barfoot's daughter, who lives a few doors away. But she said this morning that she and her husband are attempting to generate support for her father's cause, a flag-raising rite that he has undertaken for most of his life.
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.timesdispatch.com ...
HOA’s in mine, and many others opinion, are worthless piles od stinking busy-bodies and wastes of air, that somehow find ways to justify their existance, and need to be infiltrated and consumed from within, then die off in a faint wimper of feckless diatribe in some local newspaper to announce their dissolvement...
It really is too bad I don’t have an HOA that does stupid stuff like this to get any attention from me...
“Deed restrictions Enforced” (hehehe, yeah, right...) which is on a sign leading into the nieghborhood here...
Its my understanding that:
-he does not own the property the flagpole was built on.
-he is allowed to have a flagpole attached to his house.
-he is allowed to fly a flag from his house.
If I’m wrong on any of that, please correct me. I hate H.O.A’s but this idea that somehow he is being prevented from flying a flag seems to be false.
Mark Levin was all over this story this week and he was hoppin’ p!ssed off about too. He said in effect he was going to rip this law firm a new one. I hope he does. God bless this veteran.
After reading this citation, this is not a man to trifle with at any age. You’re right, these shysters are no doubt a bunch of socialist pukes who figure they can put the bull on an old man. F’ing bastards.
But all that aside, the most decorated living veteran in America; three wars; 20 medals, including three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Medal of Honor.
Yeah THAT MAN GETS A PASS ON A FREAKING FLAGPOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PING to #66
I just sent them an e-mail. Polite enough but terse enough. Lets see how they respond.
No, but its the thought that counts:-)
God bless Col. Thompson.
Looks like the HOA needs a good A$$ kickin’.
They are beneath contempt.
The Hoople Group also is serving as a clearinghouse for telephone calls, letters and e-mails of support
IIRC, the Russian word for such a neighborhood "government" is "soviet".
BTTT
This kind of B.S. and C.F. is why I am against HOA's. I've seen lots of people go to fist city with HOA's bureaucacies for things far less egreious than this and with damn good reason.
I can tell you that if that were me, whoever pulled this nonsense would get his or her teeth knocked out with my fist.
If an when I do end up buying a new nome, I will make dame sure that it's not in an HOA. I would urge everyone to make sure you do the same also.
This HOA is a criminal enterprise and needs to be put out of business. What is happening to this man is absolutely disgraceful.
Regards.......
The point here is simple, A Commissioned officer in the service of the United States government is not being allowed to raise and lower the Stars and Stripes in a military manner.
There is a difference between hoisting a flag up a flagpole and placing a flag and it’s pole onto the side of a house.
One is done with honor and respect afforded the symbol of our Nation, and the other is like changing a light bulb.
I seriously doubt that Col. Barfoot could put a flag and the pole on the side of this house every day, but he certainly can hoist the flag up it’s pole in a military manner.
Therein lies the crux of the manner, the HOA doesn’t care if he has the pole or the flag it is the reverence he shows in displaying it that they hate, the very act of rendering honor to our flag has them in a tither, how dare this old man in this day and age perform such a ceremony in his front yard, especially since while the flag is being raised or lowered all those within sight of are supposed to turn and salute it.
True, but the reason is because he does not own the property where he is trying to do it. If a neighbor built a flagpole on your property, would it matter if he was a decorated veteran or not?
There is a difference between hoisting a flag up a flagpole and placing a flag and it’s pole onto the side of a house.
True, but the fact remains this is being portrayed as not being allowed to fly the flag as opposed to not being able to fly a flag on a flagpole placed on property the man does not own.
One is done with honor and respect afforded the symbol of our Nation, and the other is like changing a light bulb.
I would disagree. When we fly our flag from the side of our house it is with honor. Just as this man and his neighbors are allowed to do.
I seriously doubt that Col. Barfoot could put a flag and the pole on the side of this house every day, but he certainly can hoist the flag up it’s pole in a military manner.
If he bought a home , with property that he actually owned, he would be able to. He made the (somewhat recent) choice to buy a home in which he does not own the land. He knew he did not own the land which is why he asked for permission to build the pole in the first place.
Therein lies the crux of the manner, the HOA doesn’t care if he has the pole or the flag
True, as long as he keeps it on his [property like all the neighbors with their and flags do.
it is the reverence he shows in displaying it that they hate,
If true then why didn't they ban all flags if this is what this is really about?
the very act of rendering honor to our flag has them in a tither, how dare this old man in this day and age perform such a ceremony in his front yard,
Therein lies the crux of the manner, its not the mans front yard! He does not own the property!
especially since while the flag is being raised or lowered all those within sight of are supposed to turn and salute it.
Agreed-and if a child is running and playing and runs into that pole and is injured-who is liable? Does the mans insurance cover it since its not his property or is the HOA and the community on the hook? Im no fan of HOA nazis, but you have to admit there is more to this story than a simple "the HOA won't let a decorated veteran fly an American flag."
Thomas F. Coates III, former US Army lawyer (1969-1971)
And here are Profiles of all the Attorneys at this sleazy law firm.
How to File a Misconduct Inquiry About a Lawyer with the Virginia State Bar:
http://www.vsb.org/site/regulation/inquiry/
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