Homeowners association to let Medal of Honor recipient fly flag
posted at 10:10 pm on December 8, 2009 by Allahpundit
A happy ending to one of our more heavily trafficked Headlines items today. The HOA objected to a 21-foot flagpole on his property, Jim Webb and Mark Warner ended up getting involved, and the issue eventually trickled all the way up to the White House press briefing. It was a thermonuclear PR nightmare, in other words. And now, at last, the nightmare is over:
A 90-year-old Medal of Honor recipient can keep his 21-foot flagpole in his front yard after a homeowner’s association dropped its request to remove it, a spokesman for Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday.
The Sussex Square homeowners’ association likewise has agreed to drop threats to take legal action against retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said.
The association had threatened to take Barfoot to court if he failed to remove the pole from his suburban Richmond home by Friday. It had said the pole violated the neighborhood’s aesthetic guidelines.
There’s a brief description of why he was awarded his MOH at the link, but I’m omitting it from the quote so that you’ll listen to Mark Levin’s retelling of it instead. Take seven minutes. You won’t be sorry.
Update: MOH is awarded, not won.
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I think a little positive discrimination would solve the legal qualms. Because of the importance and commonality of the nation, allow the American flag – only – to be respectfully displayed – only. No upside down flags. No Kiwanis flags. No satanic flags. Just the American flag, or for that matter, any other flag the association can agree on.
The problem is that we have become a nation where it is illegally discriminatory to make such positive distinctions. If Christians are allowed a Bible club in school, satanists must be allowed their club as well. If the American flag can be flown, a picture of bin Ladan must be allowed also. So the association is afraid not only that if one person flies the American flag, all can fly it, but if the American flag is allowed then ANY flag must be allowed.
This is the work of humanism, suppressing the Bible’s grid of truth by which right judgments and separations can be made, and substituting for it what seems right in men’s eyes. Scripture has warned us regarding human wisdom, however, that the ends thereof are the ways of death. We hardly have any basis for law left at all; everything is up for grabs, and the one with the most clout wins.
Time for a massive return to the Lord. First on the individual level, then a collective reordering of our institutions. Else, we can be sure, we perish as a nation.
pb
paul1149 on December 9, 2009 at 9:08 AM
The real story is that the homeowners in this association are pieses of S… I guess that is how liberal homeowners solve problems. Maybe some of the homeownere were not liberal? They act like it.
The way to solve their aethestic problem is to take up a collection and honor the hero with a new flagpole that meets their artistic senses. I doubt this flag problem would have happened in my neck of the woods, but if it had, I would have personally bought him one and installed it – as a down payment on my debt to him. I think what those homeowners really need is a D7 dozer hitting every house in the area but his.
Old Country Boy on December 9, 2009 at 9:09 AM
I know the Colonel. He used to live in my rural area of Virginia before he moved to the “city” where they have all these stupid rules that suppress patriotism.
He was in my Republican circles for several years. He wasn’t a big talker, but when he spoke, people listened.
very passionate American patriot. We were all honored by his presence.
kelley in virginia on December 9, 2009 at 9:13 AM
I can understand the homeowner association dilemma. Accept the media – - accept the message. Flag poles are great if you could bet the ranch that the owners would fly an American flag. But every neighborhood has somebody who likes the Stars and Bars confederate flag, the jolly roger, or some other rag bordering on the offensive. If one guy gets a flagpole, you can bet the house the closet Nazi down the street is going to want his! Answer: You can have a flag pole of modest height to fly the US Flag ONLY! That would stand up in court and would allow the MOH winner his opportunity to fly the colors proudly.
kens on December 9, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Declaring war on a guy who stood up under deadly fire with a little rocket launcher and stopped a tank advance is about the dumbest thing a person could ever do.
t.ferg on December 9, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Your solution is not what this man fought for, he fought for freedom.
Wade on December 9, 2009 at 10:21 AM
He is my hero of the day.
This should help home values in home owners association communities fall.
seven on December 9, 2009 at 10:41 AM
+1
I’m glad this went the way it should, and I’m thankful to hear the citation of Col. Barfoot. Thanks for sharing, Allahpundit
doginblack on December 9, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Yet Another Victory for a battle hardend combat vet.
God Bless and keep him , Who would have thought that he would be fighting for his freedoms AGAIN,only this time in his home town.
What a disgrace for the home owners ASSociation.
Shame on them.
ColdWarrior57 on December 9, 2009 at 11:21 AM
uh oh… ap busted again for ignorance on military protocol… jimbo gonna be pissed
Contributor X on December 9, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Thank you Mark Levin for forcing the issue for this 90 year old HERO, he should be honored.
dthorny on December 9, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Seems to me there’s a Home Owners’ A$$ociation that has exceeded it’s quota of IDIOTS!
THRO (Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out)
I wonder if there are any forthright citizens that would like to be on the HOA board. I wonder if the charter has provisions for a RECALL.
Colonel Barfoot, I salute you.
Thank you sir.
Blacksmith8 on December 9, 2009 at 1:27 PM
One small step for a patriot; one giant step for patriotism.
davidk on December 9, 2009 at 1:28 PM
I nominate this HERO to run this HOA.
dthorny on December 9, 2009 at 1:35 PM
The right ending to something that should never have been started.
BermanPost on December 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Yes, the HOAs are much stricter in Iraq. Forget to mow your lawn and they’ll blow up your car and behead you. And thats just for the first offense.
Each Medal of Honor recipient may have his or her name entered on the Medal of Honor Roll (38 U.S.C. § 1560). Each person whose name is placed on the Medal of Honor Roll is certified to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being entitled to receive the special pension of US$1,027 per month above and beyond any military pensions or other benefits for which they may be eligible. As of December 1, 2004, the pension is subject to cost-of-living increases.
Its not a million bucks (that money goes to Acorn, Wall Street, and other more important groups) but at least it’s something.
Logboy on December 9, 2009 at 2:46 PM
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