Community | December 03, 2009 | 114 comments

Medal of Honor recipient ordered to remove flagpole

source: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/POLEGAT02_20091202-091201/309031/P0/

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Ares
Col. Van T. Barfoot, a local Medal of Honor winner, 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.

In a priority mail letter, the Coates & Davenport law firm in Richmond is ordering Barfoot to remove the pole by 5 p.m. Friday or face "legal action being brought to enforce the Covenants and Restrictions against you." The letter states that Barfoot will be subject to paying all legal fees and costs in any successful legal proceeding pursued by the homeowner association's board.
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114 comments // Medal of Honor recipient ordered to remove flagpole

  • annazoe
  • Manatee_man
  • mr_tibbles
    • 0
      mr_tibbles  

    • They're just angry that his pole is bigger than theirs....

      But in all honesty, I'm disgusted at the actions of this man's local "homeowner association."

    • 2 years ago
  • Asha_Kydd
    • 0
      Asha_Kydd  
    • mr_tibbles:

      Home Owners Associations of full of power tripping busy-bodies. I used to live in a condo tower with a annoying Strata Council (same deal as a H.O.A). We once got a warning letter from that council because we used the pool facilities right up to the time it closes at night (we always were out on time).
      This is obviously the same bulsh*t.

    • 2 years ago
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  

    • It's the aesthetics of the flagpole not the flag, so how is he in violation? Is the pole too big? Is the pole too tall? It doesn't state the reason the pole is not acceptable under the community associates regulations.. Hey, you fly that flag, Col. Van T. Barfoot, you earned that right three times over the American's citizens right to fly it. It's every American's right to fly the "Stars and Bars".

    • 2 years ago
  • sgwhites
    • 0
      sgwhites  
    • nursediesel:

      If you go to the link, it sounds like they object to the fact that it's a free-standing flagpole, rather than the kind that gets mounted on a door or porch. Not sure why the homeowner doesn't want to use one of those instead, that wasn't mentioned.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nephwrack
    • 0
      Nephwrack  
    • nursediesel:

      @ sgtwhites...because he got a freakin frackin Medal of Honor? why should he *not* get to have a real flagpole? i really cannot stand these idiotic HOA types, i've dealt with them before and they're always just a bunch of stuck up morons.

    • 2 years ago
  • sgwhites
    • 0
      sgwhites  
    • nursediesel:

      Dude. I didn't say I agreed or disagreed with either side, and I'm not exactly sure what the preference for a flagpole over a flag stand has to do with being a Medal of Honor recipient.

      Point is, there's wasn't a lot of info on both sides of the story yet. We've basically only heard the HOA reason for wanting the flagpole gone; personally, I'd like to hear the homeowner's stance on why he wants a flagpole (vs. a flag stand) as well.

    • 2 years ago
  • cmdinc
  • sgwhites
    • 0
      sgwhites  
    • nursediesel:

      And again, I'd like to point out that nowhere have I said he *shouldn't* be able to. Simply that it seems as if all the facts are not in evidence, and I'd be interested in hearing from all sides (including Col Barfoot, who was not quoted at all in this piece; only his daughter was).

    • 2 years ago
  • timlfrench
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  
    • nursediesel:

      sgwhites, that just might be it. Maybe they object to freestanding flagpoles.
      IF that is IT wouldn't it be nice if there was an alternative he could attach to his porch, awning or home and still be able to do the official 'raising and lowering of the flag' everyday.
      I have a pole on the porch column and it's not the same as raising and lowering the flag. Military men need that ceremony, it just feels like you are treating the flag with the respect it deserves, as it stands for what Col. Van T. Barfoot put his life on the line for; at least for three stints!

    • 2 years ago
  • nursediesel
  • Ares
    • 0
      Ares  

    • This is an embarrassment. Hopefully Warner can smack around these HOA douchebags and knock some sense into their stupid fucking skulls.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
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