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Maybe the HOA is really REALLY concerned about neighborhood aesthetics, at the expense of this war hero's dignity. Or, maybe they have ulterior motives.

Or, most likely, the HOA is filled with petty little tyrants, like most HOAs.

I think the Home Owners Assn should look at H.R. 42 "Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005".

There is something about this story that doesn't smell right. All honor due and offered to Col. Barfoot. But, the story says his request for the pole was rejected in July, it was erected in Sep. and he has been properly respecting the flag every day since Veterans day. It also says the request was rejected after the pole had been erected. His daughter, and her husband, who live a few doors down are trying to further his cause. Something in there doesn't fit. Don't get me wrong, I think every CMOH recipient has earned right to do practically anything they want on american soil, but something is wrong about this story. Maybe it's just crappy journalists, which wouldn't shock me.

Of course if people were burning Gay Pride rainbow flags, they would be charged with a "hate crime".

BillyBob has a point up there.
I would never move into a place with a full-scale HOA. They do attract petty tyrants, and I will not live under tyranny.

BillyBob, H.R.42 applies only to private lands, or structures which weren't under control of home owners associations PRIOR to incorporation into the association. If the HOA was established before he moved in, or purchased the property, he is completely bound to it's guidelines.

I dont see July mentioned anywhere in the story. Did a find on July and came up empty.

I am writing as someone who has been on both sides of this issue as well as being a 24 year Army Veteran. I lived in Northern VA for many years in a community that had a HOA. I would agree that there are many boards made up of people on a search for power but a broader understanding of the "why" might be useful. I would be humbled to be in the presence of Mr. Barfoot but would have to respectfully disagree with what he has done and here is why. When you move into a community with a HOA you have to sign documents stating you are aware that there are bylaws and covenants that you will be expected to comply with when you move in. I served as a board member for 4 painful yet rewarding years and one of the biggest problems we had were the lack of homeowners knowing what the rules they signed up to comply with were before they made any types of exterior improvements to their homes. I don't know what the rules are in Mr Barfoot's community but I would be willing to bet that like most HOA's flags can be displayed on the exterior of a home as long as they are attached to the structure (and normally on a 5 foot pole) so he is probably note being denied the ability to show his patriotism - it just isn't the manner he has become used to. If there is a restriction on flag poles in the community there is a way to change that covenant to allow for them. But it takes the community to vote in the majority for the change to get it done. If Mr Barfoot's community was anything like my community was, they have a tough time getting even 10 percent of the community to attend the annual meeting where such things can be discussed. While I would be honored to raise the flag and salute it every day in front of Mr Barfoot's house, he needs to the best of his ability abide by the bylaws and covenants he agreed to be a part of when he moved into his new home. As the president of my community I had to enforce a lot of covenants that I personally disagreed with and by doing so I was accused of being a tyrant at times too. Living in a community with a HOA can be a two edged sword at times. Our community BOD was all volunteers that were fellow homeowners and this is probably the case in Mr. Barfoot's community as well. I do wish Mr Barfoot my best in his effort to get an exception to the policy - I personally would support it.

Stop hijacking my name!

But yes if anyone burned my rainbow flag I would look for a hate crime charge to be preferred.

Here is the video to the above picture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G9SMnVNBUM

Thank you Steve. I am also behind Col. Barfoot 100%, and if he were to move into my community, I would be the first to knock on doors to petition the HOA for his pole exception, and also stand by his side every morning and evening for the flag honors ceremonies. My fear is that he was "forced" into his present situation by his daughter to avoid staying in the country alone.

I sent a postal letter as a fellow Army officer; one to him and one to the dopes in the HOA.

I think Steve has it right. If you don't like the bylaws then get them changed. I'd like to add that failure of the HOA to act on this violation might set a precedent which opens the door to other violations. It's sad, but that's the way it is. Hopefully reason and patriotism will prevail and Col. Barfoot gets to keep his flagpole.

Remind those liberal arrogant strutting liberal peacocks of FREEDOM OF EXTRESSTION then SUE THE BUMS AND MAKE THEM APPOLIGISE ON THEIR KNEES

The guy lives there. Buying a house should not be something done lightly (evidenced by some interesting economics recently - anyone awake for that?) and as such if this was so all-fired important to him he should have taken the time to confirm that it was allowable BEFORE purchasing/moving there.

Sucks that a WWII vet is getting the short end, but (as always) a bit of foreknowledge would have prevented this entirely.

Here's where it gets silly, though - "Or, maybe they have ulterior motives."

What might those be? You are clearly thinking along the Beck lines of "its all a conspiracy involving Acorn! And somehow we'll tie it to Van Jones! And LOUD NOISES!"

That what you were thinking? (I bet it was.....)

guess maryhunter cant really come up with anything (which is not, for the record, shocking news...) for their mindless tinfoil-hat signoff to actually mean.

Take a lesson from it folks... your FauxNews overlords manipulate you with those statements ("or DO they?!?!") all the time... and as evidenced by the inability of anyone here to make sense of it... it is a completely EMPTY statement!

It's permissible to install a sat dish on almost any residential structure without interference from the property owner, yet the flag is restricted.

Maybe it's time to give the flag the same respect as the damn dish

Colorado has a Homeowners Bill of Rights, that prevents HOA's from prohibiting displaying the American flag. Perhaps Virginia needs such a law as well. Here is Colorado's law verbatim:

WHICH THE COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITY IS LOCATED, IN WITH CONSIDERATION(1) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION IN THE DECLARATION, BYLAWS, OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION TO THE CONTRARY, AN ASSOCIATION SHALL NOT PROHIBIT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: (a) THE DISPLAY OF THE AMERICAN FLAG BY A UNIT OWNER ON THAT UNIT OWNER'S PROPERTY, IN A WINDOW OF THE UNIT OWNER'S RESIDENCE, OR ON A BALCONY ADJOINING THE UNIT OWNER'S PROPERTY IF THE AMERICAN FLAG IS DISPLAYED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE FEDERAL FLAG CODE, P.L. 94-344; 90 STAT. 810; 4 U.S.C. 4 TO 10. THE ASSOCIATION MAY ADOPT REASONABLE RULES REGARDING THE PLACEMENT AND MANNER OF DISPLAY OF THE AMERICAN FLAG. THE ASSOCIATION RULES MAY REGULATE THE LOCATION AND SIZE OF FLAGS AND FLAGPOLES, BUT SHALL NOT PROHIBIT THE INSTALLATION OF A FLAG OR FLAGPOLE.

So, while a big vague--what are "reasonable rules?"--the bottom line is in largely in favor of the homeowner. It leaves little room for argument. Mother of pearl, it's not like Mr. Barfoot has a "car dealership size" flag that is lit up at night with thousand watt floodlights all night. It appears that if he complies with the Federal FLag Code, he should be allowed to display the American flag. If the flagpole is on is property then the HOA needs to butt out. This HOA and the board members should be ashamed of themselves.

I served one year on my HOA board of directors, it was basically a waste of time, dealing with people who can't follow basic guidelines or regulations. I have bigger fish to fry. I got out while the gettin' was good. I didn't want to be seen as a petty tyrant as Karin described. Changing HOA bylaws and covenants is not easy. My HOA requires a two-thirds majority vote by the homeowners. Where I live, the condos are mostly tenant occupied. Many owners don't even know or care who is renting. As long as the rent is paid on time and the check clears the bank, they don't give a damn if their tenant lives there and rents out the other bedroom to a buddy or co-worker. The amount of apathy from the homeowners is pathetic. Our most recent annual meeting was attened by whopping four owners out of 61 owners. I was one of them, because I care about the community. I've gone off topic, but I hope Mr. Barfoot prevails.

Glad to see that the link to Charles was before he lost it.

Shame about that turn.

Photo from LGF? Must be from a very old post from that whacko's site.

WHEN we take back our country maybe a little tar and feathers in the general direction of these pukes is in order. I've dealt with it before and its insane. These people are victims of being pushed around in jr. high because they were pussies. They're still pussies but they think they now have the means to make the select few they dont like suffer. One dosent "win" the Medal of Honor. Its AWARDED for extreme bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. Not like saying its ok they screwed up the mocha latte and taking it anyway if they dont charge you.
2010/2012/2013

Steve gives a good description of HOAs in Northern VA. I live in a townhouse in northern VA that has a HOA. We can fly a flag attached to a 5ft. or less pole that is attached to our garage. To be fair about this story, I have to admit that I wouldn't want my neighbor to fly a flag on a "free standing pole" in our shared, incredibly miniscule front yard. Some twit would probably plow into it with their car or knock it over and kill their neighbor or some such thing. It seems to me that people getting upset about what is probably most certainly only a reaction to a violation of a HOA convenant and has nothing to do with the fact that there is an American flag involved in the violation, takes away from the real violations of our freedoms that are happening in this county. In our townhouse cluster, Col. Barfoot would get the same reaction to erected a flagpool that he would get planting a tree in the wrong place or painted his garage door the wrong color. God bless Mr. Barfoot for his service to his country, but I'm sure he signed a covenant when he moved in and now he has to abide by it or move.

I know I could never live in a hoa development because my first response when some told me I couldn't put something in my yard would be "so when did you start paying my mortage?". Now a condo of course would be a different story.

It's disgraceful that a Medal of Honor winner like Barfoot can't display the flag the way he has for years because of some HOA nitwits.

get everybody to move out and leave them with dozens of empty homes and loosing hundreds of dollars