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CLERMONT, Fla. -- A Central Florida war veteran faces a lawsuit for flying the American flag in his front yard. "I don't understand why it would bring down the values of our homes by flying the American flag from a pole in my front yard," homeowner Jimmie Watkins said. Watkins and his wife, Ria, received a final notices from the Sussex homeowners' association in Clermont that they must remove the flag or else face legal action. The former retired U.S. Navy communications officer said he refuses to back down for the American flag. "Our people are serving today to give...

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -- A banner honoring America's military has become the center of a controversy in Clay County, where officials have said an Orange Park woman's patriotic display is breaking the law. Ella George told WJXT that members of her family have fought for the country, and now she is fighting for her right to honor them by putting up a supportive banner at Annabelle's Interiors. The six-foot by two-foot banner in front of the Clay County business says, "Salute Every Generation's Heroes." However, the county said the banner violates its sign ordinance and has ordered it be removed....

WASHINGTON, March 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's largest pro-troop organization, Move America Forward (website: http://www.MoveAmericaForward.org ) will hold a news conference this Friday, March 14, 2008, calling attention to, and denouncing, the rising trend of violence against military recruiting centers. The news conference takes place in the Murrow Room at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 14th at 9:30 AM. Move America Forward will provide detailed accounts of these attacks, including photographs and documents, to members of the media in attendance. A new national television ad campaign calling attention to these attacks will also be unveiled....

The speakers had just finished lamenting recent acts of vandalism at military recruiting centers and had opened the floor to questions at the National Press Club when peace activist Tighe Barry jumped up, took off his shirt and revealed the pink military tunic he was wearing underneath. "This is what I think of the Marine Corps!" he yelled. "The Marine Corps needs to be the peace corps!" Incensed, Kevin L. Martin rushed to the microphone. "Let me tell you something, dammit!" he hollered. "I'm a Navy veteran of seven years, and . . . you are a joke, sir! Please...

U.S. and Massachusetts flags that flew with state National Guard troops over in Afghanistan are now at the center of an ongoing labor dispute between Verizon and a union trying to organize workers. Terry Skiest, a Verizon employee and Massachusetts Air National Guard member, said his Acton supervisor ordered that two flags be removed last fall from the outside of his office cubicle and hung less prominently inside his work station.

Seattle commentator Ken Schram of KOMO: "How does some inept, insensitive idiot with the IQ of room temperature even get a TSA job? That TSA screener should have his [expletive] fired. And those soldiers deserve at least an apology."

Big-hearted Boy Scouts collecting donations for care packages for U.S. troops are still scratching their heads after being sent packing from polling stations when Cambridge officials ruled their generous effort “political.” “We just wanted to make a lot of troops happy,” said Scout Patrick O’Connor, 16. “I was devastated that someone would think to take (the donation boxes) out,” he said. O’Connor of West Cambridge was one of the Scouts who wanted to collect toiletries, magazines, candy and other items for care packages after one of his relatives was injured in an IED explosion while serving in Iraq. “He mentioned...

WASHINGTON - Several thousand anti-war demonstrators marched through downtown Washington on Saturday, clashing with police at the foot of the Capitol steps where more than 190 protesters were arrested. The group marched from the White House to the Capitol to demand an end to the Iraq war. Their numbers stretched for blocks along Pennsylvania Avenue, and they held banners and signs and chanted, "What do we want? Troops out. When do we want it? Now." Army veteran Justin Cliburn, 25, of Lawton, Okla., was among a contingent of Iraq veterans in attendance. "We're occupying a people who do not want...

After seven years, residents George and Ann Andres can fly the American flag the way they want - and not lose their home in the process. According to their attorney, Barry Silver, the Andreses and their homeowners association have settled most of their differences in the flag pole war that put the Indian Creek community on the national map. More local news Latest breaking news, photos and all of today's Post stories. The battle erupted in 1999, when Korean War veteran George Andres began flying his flag on a 12-foot pole outside his townhouse, instead of hoisting it to brackets...

We all support our troops, for heaven's sake, not to mention their suffering families. But your ribbon or Friday red is actually saying: Yes, we should be in Afghanistan What a sad difference a year makes. Last fall I had the privilege of spending time with several women in Petawawa, military wives who had soldier husbands serving in Afghanistan. Every one of them displayed a cheerful, if wry, sense of humour, despite the stress they lived under day and night. And every one of them shone with a kind of inner strength and courage most of us will never have...

Flags in front of the Plymouth Church parsonage at 87 Edgell Road in Framingham FRAMINGHAM, MA - What started as a quiet response to controversy about the display of a peace flag on the Plymouth Church parsonage has turned into a bit of an American revolution. A couple of weeks ago, longtime Plymouth Church parishioner David Player put three American flags on town-owned property on the grassy island across from the church. There are now about two dozen American flags on the patch of lawn. Player was outraged when he saw the peace flag - a red, white and...

(Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2681 commander) Dean and other veterans questioned the policy, arguing that they had distributed the 3-by-5-inch U.S. flags from their float to children and other people on the sidewalks for the past several years, without incident. After his morning meeting with Flynn and a second meeting in the afternoon regarding the language of the agreement, Dean said he was satisfied with the compromise and said Flynn was "very cordial." Under the agreement, veterans will be allowed to walk-up to spectators and hand them flags 10 to 15 minutes before the parade begins,... [snip] "Some of...

TAMPA - Infantryman Brandon Davis left the Florida Army National Guard with his uniform, a lot of pride in his country, and a band of friends who are more like brothers. "I have brothers there who are losing their lives every day, you know I spent some time in the Army, it just means a lot to me. It's Memorial Day," Davis said in an interview Monday.Naturally, he decided to really honor the U.S.A. this Memorial Day. So, the 23-year-old hung a little flag outside his door."You know, it's a hand flag," Davis explained. "20 minutes later, the flag is...

The facts are sufficiently clear that we must begin to question the judgment, if not the motivations, of those at home who persist in trying to obscure the central threat we face from the totalitarian political ideology known as Islamofascism. In recent days, it has become harder than ever to deny the true nature of the conflict in which we find ourselves. As President Bush put it recently, "We are at war with Islamic fascists." To be sure, the mounting evidence does not preclude some from denying this reality. The facts are sufficiently clear, however, that we must begin to...

Operation Gratitude Denied Building by LAUSD Because of Anti-War Sentiments! Operation Gratitude sends care packages to our troops Carolyn Blashek via Susan King, Pasadena Dear All, I am sorry to report that the deal we had for the new facility was pulled out from under us at the last moment. To say I am angry and disappointed is an understatement, as you can imagine. However, I, and I trust all of us, are committed to press on and I have already re-initiated my outreach to various quarters to find another space. Time is clearly of the essence as we need...

When Trish Bailey's son returns to Manassas this weekend from Iraq, she wants to honor him. But she said she is being rebuffed by city officials. Her 28-year-old son, Jason Nichols, is a 12-year veteran of the U.S. Army, and on Friday, he will be leaving Iraq, where he has been since January, to visit home. When Bailey brings her son home from Dulles International Airport and they enter Manassas on Va. 28, she wants him to be greeted by yellow ribbons hanging from every pole and post she can find along the route. "I think that every soldier that...

As soldiers, we have two enemies that should our allies in the war on terror. I am not referring to the negative nature of journalism, or the sedition of those who release classified information. Although those do complicate our lives, they are to be expected. After all treason was old when Alcibiades defected, and even the best battles in war are going to look bad in full color, live. Instead, there are two former allies that have defected: higher education, and mass media (specifically film). Let us treat these one at a time. Higher education is at its pinnacle in...

Nominations are needed tonight for Free Republic's Culture of Treason Media Awards to be presented tomorrow night outside the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C.The Culture of Treason Media Awards, aka the Benedict Arnolds, are to be awarded to those reporters and news outlets whose reporting has undermined the efforts by the United States to fight and win the war on terror.Nominations are needed by 11 p.m. tonight. Voting will start shortly after that and will end at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (tomorrow.)Some nominations to kick things off:Mark Knoller of CBS News for failing to report Cindy Sheehan's remarks calling...

Calling on Hilton to be the kinda corp it claims to be. Few Americans would argue that American soldiers should not receive the thanks of our nation for their service, and fewer still would argue that, if returning to our country less than whole and in need of help, soldiers should not receive the support of America's corporate giants. Hilton Hotel Corporation, then, has something to answer for. Every Friday is Veterans' Day at Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steakhouse in Washington, D.C., where owners, Hal Koster and Marty O'Brien, bring soldiers — primarily amputees — recovering from their wounds at Walter...

<p>A two-year tradition for wounded war vets is about to go by the wayside. A downtown DC steak house that’s catered to injured troops every Friday night is about to close.</p> <p>Fran O’Brien’s landlord [Hilton] is forcing out the steakhouse of the same name.</p>