COL Barfoot -Threads Merged

[Longrifle]

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."

Link

Spin it any way you want, to me it's not about a flagpole. It's about the flag.

[gryan1966]

"Col. Barfoot is free to display the American flag in conformity with the neighborhood rules and restrictions. We are hopeful that Col. Barfoot will comply."

Taken from the link

Since when does the Flag have to conform???

[Section8]

Here is a link to new report:
<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> http://www.wtvr.com/news/

HOA of today have turned it complete control freaks. This is complete BS and I find it totally disrespectful to the entire nation. With the a senator involved this should get interesting.

Here is something interesting to read that relates to the subject:
http://www.senate.gov/reference/reso...df/RL30243.pdf

Last paragraph...

Quote:
Restrictions on Display of the Flag by
Real Estate Associations
The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 200556 prohibits a
condominium, cooperative, or real estate management association from adopting or
enforcing any policy or agreement that would restrict or prevent a member of the
association from displaying the flag in accordance with the Federal Flag Code on
residential property to which the member has a separate ownership interest.

[wowzers]

Why live in a neighborhood with HOA?

[Husker19D30]

I can't see the neighborhood association winning this one. Not in Virginia, anyway.

The man stood 75 yards away from a Panzer Mk VI and crippled it with a bazooka. No bunch of hippies in a home owner's association are gonna scare him.

[SOTB]

Originally Posted by Longrifle

Spin it any way you want, to me it's not about a flagpole. It's about the flag.

From the article:

Barfoot had sought permission to install the pole shortly after he moved into the community — a complex of townhouses where the grounds are community property — last June. The board denied his request in July.

I think the HA association was clear -- no flagpoles.

This is 2109 -- almost 2010. There is no reason -- at all -- where someone would move into a community with a HA and not expect that there would be rules to follow -- including rules they didn't like.

FROM THE INFO IN THE ARTICLE, I agree with the HA....

[Baildog]

I have to agree; he bought into an HA. When we were house-shopping a few years ago, one of our first questions was," is there a HA?" If so, we didn't even look at the house.
But once you buy knowing there is an HA, it's your own fault.

[wowzers]

Originally Posted by Baildog

But once you buy knowing there is an HA, it's your own fault.

Agreed

[Senior D]

I currently pay dues to a HOA. Never ever again.

The point at issue here has nothing to do with flying the flag or the flag itself, but rather this guy's flagpole. I think this could have been handled better by the HOA and why would you have a clause in the agreement prohibiting flagpoles? The HOA could have just looked the other way. Dumb. Unfortunately, I dont see this guy winning this one. I would sure love to thank him for his service though.

[OldSwabbie]

I would stand behind the Col.. but legally.. legally (damit) he is in the red zone. I cant stand HA's .. they are usually nothing but a bunch of old people with nothing better to do than make other people's lives miserable.

My father (Army, Korea war Vet) had a run in with a HA a number of years ago. The HA wasn't in existance when we built our house in 69 in the subdivision... Years later a HA came into being, but my father decided NOT to participate. He was painting the house one day when two old men walked up the driveway and asked him what he was doing (in a interogatory manner)... He was taken back a little but said "painting, what the hell does it look like I'm doing?". They commenced to telling him that he had not put in a request to the HA to change the color (he wasnt) of the trim and he must cease any further painting until it was approved. My Dad told me to go inside.. Damit - I would always miss all the good stuff as a kid.

My father was a good old Alabama boy, with a temper.. but, he was also an Aux Florida Highway patrolman so he had to watch himself...looking out the window I could hear him cussing them out .. the old men turned even whiter than they were before.. he started going after them and ended up chasing them back down the driveway with a paintbrush in his hand. He warned them that they would be SHOT the next time they set foot on HIS property.. that THIS was their warning after trespass... they tried some legal wrangling but lost their asses in court to him.

[dustyrebel]

If I understand the last sentence in Section8"s post, its states seperate ownership interest. If someone is part of HOA, aren't the grounds common property, or seen as such.
I would think that if the person in question hung his flag from his residence, and not from a flag pole on common property, the HOA really could say anything.

[Section8]

Originally Posted by dustyrebel

If I understand the last sentence in Section8"s post, its states seperate ownership interest. If someone is part of HOA, aren't the grounds common property, or seen as such.
I would think that if the person in question hung his flag from his residence, and not from a flag pole on common property, the HOA really could say anything.

Agreed, but within in the confines of a boundary that shows on a recorded survey is not considered common ground. If it was common ground than it would then be the HOA's responsibility to take of it through HOA dues.

[Hopeless Civilian]

Unfortunately I think the HA is right about this, but you know what? The people who are having a problem with Col. Barfoot's way of flying the Flag are petty and stupid. Really, what is it hurting if he does it that way. Ya think they would have bigger problems to worry about.

[SOTB]

Originally Posted by Hopeless Civilian

Ya think they would have bigger problems to worry about.

I think someone's home is something to be quite worried about.

HAs, like them or not, exist because people realized that it sucks ass to drop a shitload of money down for your dream, only to have your neighbor park his fridge on the lawn, throw up a ratty chainlink fence, and paint his house the fuchsia color he has always dreamed of. Some HAs have become fucking stupid -- I agree. Others are quite reasonable and serve their purpose.

I love when people "demand" to be allowed to do something in the name of patriotism. What a great concept. If you contest them, you are not a patriot. You become a scumsucker that hates the US.

What a crock....

[Section8]

everyone has an opinion..........and every law is subject to interpritation.