Medal of Honor recipient ordered to remove flagpole

You're nasty.

Is being gross the best you can do?

I hate it when people are so intent on keeping rules just because they are rules. I lived in a strict community and the rules are made to keep the property values high. The rule should be that you cannot have a rusty or unattractive flag pole, not that you cannot have a flag pole at all. Not to mention this guy has been living in his home for more than 15 years!! Rules are created BY THE PEOPLE to work FOR THE PEOPLE. This rule can be modified to include more people while still keeping the original intent and that is what is important. We don't have rules just to control people, just in case you didn't know that.

no...rules are for controlling people for the common good. HOA regulate for the common good of those who agree to the terms. It doesn't matter how long he has lived there or how long the flag pole has been up or whether or he is a veteran or how old he is....the point is that if the rules that he agreed to indicate that he cannot have a flagpole then he cannot have a flagpole. End of story.

People make exceptions for something like this when it involves a "Medal of Honor" recipient.

They don't just give those things out with a box of cracker jacks. Show the man the respect he has earned.

exceptions based on status is a little tricky, no? who decides? is 2 medals good enough? 1? serving in the military? Exceptions based on what standard exactly?

Since when am I not respecting the man? He must live up to his agreement with what he signed up for just as everyone must. Tough.

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2625/barfoot-van-t.php

I disagree with your opinion. I think that he has earned the right to display the flag on his property with or without the approval of you or the HOA involved in the dispute.

We could use a few more men like Colonel Barfoot. The HOA involved should consider it an honor to have him live in their community.

BARFOOT, VAN T.
Rank: Second LieutenantOrganization: U.S. Army
Company: Division: 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division
Born: Edinburg, Miss.Departed: No
Entered Service At: Carthage, Miss.G.O. Number: 79
Date of Issue: 10/04/1944Accredited To:
Place / Date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

Don't try to convince me that they make exceptions based on medals, try to convince the HOA. You might think he has won the approval but that unfortunately doesn't matter. Apparently they disagree with your opinion and, so far, are not trying to make an exception.

http://news.aol.com/article/world-war-ii-veteran-van-t-barfoot-can/799470

RICHMOND, Va. (Dec. 9) -- A 90-year-old Medal of Honor winner can keep his 21-foot flagpole in his front yard after a homeowners association dropped its request to remove it, a spokesman for Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday.

agreed.

did that years ago, Cant really understand what everyone else is waiting for. No neighbors for miles.

I haven't seen that in years! Most people I know don't even remember it, or when/why it was written.
It is so true, though.

So many people bitching about not being able to have a flagpole. Anyone who stresses out about something this silly and trivial is an anal control freak.

Seriously guys, quit with the idolatry.The US flag is not Jesus Christ in the flesh. It's fabric, most likely made in China, and can be displayed in other ways.

I live in the sticks....no HOAs for me. The thought of someone telling me I can't plant a certain tree on my property, or park in my driveway is just unbearable.
And I know places that won't allow people to park in their own driveway! The car HAS to be in the garage.

ya whatever. psst ...some times its better to keep your mouth shut. This would be one of those times.

@ cmdinc:

Psst...ditto.

It is my understanding that, while the flag can be flown from other surfaces, the respectful way to fly the flag is the way this man is flying it.

well progresshiv, very nice to be on the same side as you. Strange days indeed lol

That's right! I agree. Well said Progresshiv

Thanks. We can fight tooth and nail over politics, but we're all Americans, for God's sake. The flag belongs to all of us, and no pinhead homeowner's association has the right to disrespect our country and the people who serve it.

what did you just say? Could you please calrify your response

I think he just admitted to being an idiot. Also, incapable of effective communication.

Pretty sure the person who said something about Obama was just being facetious.

If you read the full article at the link, it actually states that flagpoles weren't specifically mentioned in the HOA guidelines, but the association voted that it was aesthetically inappropriate. Which may be splitting hairs, but is worth noting.

What I found more interesting was that the only quotes seemed to be coming from the daughter, not the veteran. Makes me wonder who's really more upset.

Thanks for the additional link; it was interesting to hear what Col Barfoot had to say. I do think "aesthetically appropriate" is an awfully vague standard, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out. (I mean, I love purple, and think painting a house purple would be perfectly aesthetically appropriate, but I'm not sure everyone would agree. But then again, that's why I wouldn't want to live anywhere with HOA guidelines. :))

LoL @ "These colors don't run." Been stuck in traffic behind rednecks with bumper stickers? You people who talk about fighting for this country and then, in the same breath, tell people to "go to China like the commie bastards they are" fucking crack me up. Unless I'm suffering from a misapprehension and fighting for the country means fighting only for your own right to do whatever you want regardless of any contract you enter into. It certainly can't have anything to do with preserving an environment in which liberty can flourish via the free exchange of ideas or you wouldn't want people with ideas that are different from yours to go somewhere else.

my my Giganticus, arent we touchy...

Really? Why was I singled out for that distinction? Because you don't agree with me?

my my Nephwrack, arent we touchy...

no but your posts proved my point. XD

Thank our vetrans we have the right to disagree. I stand by my statement as I posted it. If you disagree you can kiss my unreconstructed A$$

Oh yea! I'm proud to be a redneck Yee Haa!

you aint no redneck. You just wish you were.

If i was any more of a redneck in would be banging my sister.

Congratulations!
You've posted the first rational comment on this thread.

I am glad this man didn't Boo Hoo when THEY WERE F>>>ING SHOOTING AT HIM, only for the oportunity for your parents to bring into this world a friggen no mind.

Just about every ones subjective comments are based on emotional reaction and has little too do with the fact that being a Veteran he should be used too and willing too follow rule he's agreed too.

Read the article. There was nothing in his original contract forbidding flagpoles. The HOA voted on it as a case-by-case situation, and this is how they ruled. He didn't agree to it at all.

Come on! You aren't this dense! They probably don't have anything about 20 foot tall neon cacti written either. So if you want one in your front yard, you go to them and they decide, however arbitrarily those lawn-nazis decide things. That is the deal. Then people act outraged when they are told "no." Well stop entering into these agreements! On top of that, you have the added element of his being an unusually distinguished veteran. A man to be respected if ever there was one. I, for one, respect him so much that I am not willing to just rend asunder everything he did by treating him as if the rule of law he fought to preserve didn't exist. That is what you people are talking about. You are saying, essentially, that he sacrificed (or was willing to, same difference here, I think) his one and only life for the preservation of this nation so lets show him respect by disrespecting his sacrifice in undoing every bit of the rule of law and giving him what he wants. And you want to act as if people like me are the problem with this country because we don't catch our breath when someone mentions the flag but instead keep on thinking.

I worry about people like you .!.

One's fondness for the old caboose is not synonymous with national pride.

Where do you live that it is unacceptable to raise the flag?

This man fought for his right to raise a flag and damn well earned it.

I agree with deadpool. There really is no comparison between a flagpole and a locomotive/caboose/whatever you call it. And even if there wa a comparison, it's still HIS property.

Are you for real? Please do not reproduce

The fact is that you guys are appealing to national pride to claim that a flag can and should be parked anywhere without regard for how inappropriate, unattractive or gaudy the display is. It's about as tasteless and inappropriate to put a flagpole in front of your house in an ordinary suburban street as it is to park a caboose in your lawn. I suppose if you lived in a religious state, you'd applaud a big 10' bloody Jesus on a cross hanging in the front yard, simply because you think that symbol trumps anything else. Just because you think a flag invokes some national pride issue, doesn't make it any less tasteless and inappropriate to put a flagpole on a surburban street.

You are equating the value of the American flag to an aesthetic decoration.

What you are forgetting is that this man fought for his country, three times. He was injured in pursuit of saving a comrade. Regardless of the political machine behind the war, those troops are fighting for YOU. So let this great American have his flag.

In the sixties people were killed for burning flags, now some politically correct fool is unopposed to the hypocrisy in this matter?

I know that this is just a Housing Organization and they operate privately, but you are clearly gung-ho about making this policy.

That is such a harsh reality dude!

Really? He was ordered to take it down by a homeowner's association. They care more for the aesthetics of the community rather than the individuals that make up the community. I don't think Obama being president has anything to do with this. By the way, I think it's very ridiculous what they're doing, he should not be forced to take down his flagpole.

I completely agree with you Rojo. I got a parking ticket this morning because this is Obama's America.

Actually, THIS has absolutely nothing to do with my president.

that was a joke guys

This just proves, yet again, that sarcasm cannot be conveyed via text.

agreed.

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.

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.

@ 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.

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.

Truth is sg if it wasn't for men lik Col Barfoot you would not be free to express your opinion. If this hero wants a flag pole you let him have a flag pole.

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).

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!

You are right. timifrench, I just like the sound of 'Stars and Bars' and my recent reading material has been regarding the Civil War! Thanks though for setting us staight.

I think he ought to slam that flagpole up their ass. Then maybe they would have a legit complaint.