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Posted on 10/28/2001 5:47:29 AM PST by LarryLied

What do you think George Andres should do in this flag pole battle with his homeowners association?

Keep the flag pole up and fight the association
Take the flag pole down and continue to fight
Give up the fight and take the flag pole down

Vote here:

http://www.tcpalm.com/_special/flag/index.shtml

Lead story in today's Jupiter Courier (not on the net yet):

Association stands firm in flag flap

By Randall Murry

Ask Christine Royce of Jupiter about the controversy that has consumed her community and must of her personal and professions life for the last three years and she responds with an emphatic statement. Then she repeats it.

"This is not about the American flag!"

Royce, 49, is president of the now infamous Indian Creek Phase III-B Homeowners Association. The 96 home community has been embroiled in a disagreement that evolved into a dispute that because a lawsuit and now has mushroomed into an international cause.

All because of George Andres and his flagpole. Not his flag, Rocye reiterates, "It's his flagpole."

Royce has been largely silent on the issue, although two court decisions have in the homeowners associations's favor. Andres, who erected his 12-foot flagpole on the lawn of his home at 125 Doe Trail nearly three years ago says he had verbal permission from a previous board. The present board disagrees. The boards says the association bylaws prohibit "appurtenances" on the lawn. Andres disagrees.

He has countersued the homeowners association, claiming its ations have embarrassed the community as is prohibited in the same bylaws.

The fight has become personal. Royce accuses Andres of "misrepresenting facts" and of "wrapping himself in the American flag."

She charges him with conducting a vendetta against her and the board, in spite of its dedication to "no selective enforcement " of assocation bylaws.

And so, the battle over who's right, who's wrong--and who pays the bills--goes on.

Not even last week's passage by Florida's Legislature of a bill permitting residents to fly flags, despite homewoner association regulations against it, has swayed Royce and her fellow board members. Royce, who works for a West Palm Beach law firm, points out that such a law cannot be passed ex post facto--or to cover situations that preceded its passage.

Royce, who has lived in Indian Creek for 11 years, said she is convinced the action the board reluctantly brought against an intransigent Andres is correct and support by law.

(snip)...Public reaction to the court action and the pending forclosure actions against Andres' home is overwhelming in support of the flagpole and of Andres 64, a Marine vetern who served in the final days of the Korean conflict.

Earlier this month, the Military Order of the Purple Hearts, comprised of wounded veterans, said it will come to the Andres home ov Veterans Day, Nov 11, and conduct a full memorial ceremony there-including a 21 gun rifle salute.

Jupiter Police Chief Richard Westgate has denied the group permission to the fire the rifles.

Carlos Fernandes, leader of the Broward Country organization commented, "we just might do it anyway."

randall.murray@scripps.com

Previous Jupiter Courier articles:

Vet's to help "flag man" celebrate Veteran's Day

Jupiter "flag man" could lose his home

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