Homeowners association to let Medal of Honor recipient fly flag

There’s a brief description of why he won 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.

It’s already been noted but Col. Barfoot did not “win” a MOH (as if it were at the bottom of a ceral box or the grand prize in a raffle at the local VFW). He “received” a MOH for his actions. I know that this kind of nuance doesn’t bother some but it bugs the heck out of me. Both Ed and Allah in their own ways show ignorance when it comes to military matters which is often a weakness in their threads. I don’t understand why they don’t tap some of the talent on this site to offset their ignorance in these matters (just some constructive criticism from the Peanut Gallery).

That being said, I knew from the beginning the outcome of this story. The HOA is dead right on the law, including the fact that the covenants were in place before the Colonel moved into the neighborhood. BUT….. You simply don’t tell a 90-year-old MOH winner that you’re going to sue if he doesn’t cease and desist flying his American flag. This was more than a PR nightmare, it was the wrong thing to do since surely they could have reached a compromise that didn’t violate the asthetics of the neighborhood.

My personal approach would have been to throw in a covenant that allows MOH winners to have a flagpole in recognition of their service.

highhopes on December 9, 2009 at 7:09 AM

IMHO, the biggest issue is the lack of respect the HOA board showed to the good Col …. at what point do we not value these veterans the way they deserve to be valued and treated? This whole little spat has unearthed a side to our current culture that I don’t like very much.

YTZGal on December 9, 2009 at 1:45 AM

Even people who hate HOAs with a passion are quick to say they are necessary in the next breath. I’m not so sure I agree but that’s just me. I hate “communities” where unelected martinets get into a tizzy over paint colors, flag poles, and whether or not you have a boat parked in your driveway. I’d much rather live in a “neighborhood” where you have a mix of houses (as opposed to one of five models all from the same architect and in the same style) and along with that the understanding that pride of ownership not the local Nazi organization would determine things like whether or not one puts up a flagpole.

Best neighborhood I ever lived in was a 1930′s area in Michigan. Worst community I ever lived in was in Southern California where the HOA snuck peeks under the neighbor’s garage door to see if there was room to park a car (a covenant).

highhopes on December 9, 2009 at 7:18 AM