Or, you cite a law that supersedes the HOA reg, take it to court, and win. OK by me.
The thing is no HOA can 'Ban' display the of the US Flag, that's the Law.
But as to how it's displayed, they CAN and legally do have a say. And a 16' ft tall Flag Pole wouldn't sit well, not with me either (who knows what other type of Flag he or someone else would fly?). Plus, they have 12' high Flag Poles that you can install and would bother nobody. I've looked into getting one of those myself.
This story sounds like he wanted to push some buttons from the beginning.