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Paslode
12-02-2009, 17:38
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/POLEGAT02_20091202-091201/309031/

Henrico Medal of Honor winner, 90, ordered to remove flagpole


JOE MAHONEY/TIMES-DISPATCH

Medal of Honor winner Col. Van T. Barfoot is being ordered to remove a flagpole from his yard in western Henrico County.
By Staff Reports
Published: December 2, 2009
Updated: December 2, 2009


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.

Barfoot lives in the Sussex Square community in far western Henrico; its board of directors rejected a plea from Barfoot in July to approve the pole, disallowing the fixture on aesthetic grounds.

There is no provision in the community's rules expressly forbidding flagpoles, Barfoot's daughter said. But she said the board ruled against her father's fixture and ordered it removed in July, deciding that free-standing flag poles are not aesthetically appropriate. Short flag stands attached to porches dot the community.

"Dad sort of feels like this is the end," said Margaret Nicholls, Barfoot's daughter, who lives a few doors away. But she said this morning that she and her husband are attempting to generate support for her father's cause, a flag-raising rite that he has undertaken for most of his life.

Barfoot received the Medal of Honor on the battlefield during World War II in Italy and fought as well in the Korean and Vietnam wars. A portion of a highway in rural Mississippi, his native state, was named in his honor this fall. A building at McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond also carries his name.

Barfoot began regularly flying the flag on Veteran's Day this year despite the Sussex Square board's decision.

He said in November that not flying the flag would be a sacrilege to him.

"There's never been a day in my life or a place I've lived in my life that you couldn't fly the American flag," he said.

For more on this story, see tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.

-- Bill McKelway

Utah Bob
12-02-2009, 17:56
MOH Citation (http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_living/ii_a_barfoot.html)

I suspect the HOA will relent after this hits the news.
Not specifically prohibited in the rules but declared a no-no by the board. Interesting.

Red Flag 1
12-02-2009, 18:03
I'd like to see this go to FOX News, Sean Hannity ,Limbaugh and Bill O'Riley!!

Pure liberal, ACLU spin.


RF 1

Pete
12-02-2009, 18:15
....Not specifically prohibited in the rules but declared a no-no by the board. Interesting.

The HOA Board is made up of people. Interesting that members of a HOA don't realize the twits that run the board until something like this happens.

Once again - get involved at the lowest level. HOAs and local government. That gives you the biggest bang for your effort.

Gypsy
12-02-2009, 18:30
Yeah, since the flagpole is not specifically prohibited I'd be telling all concerned to pound sand. Repeatedly.

Bill Harsey
12-02-2009, 18:38
Just sent a link to this page to Lars Larson who has both a regional and national radio talk show.
I'm proud to say Lars has been here in the shop, he's one of the good guys.

PSM
12-02-2009, 18:44
Just sent a link to this page to Lars Larson who has both a regional and national radio talk show.
I'm proud to say Lars has been here in the shop, he's one of the good guys.

Mark Levin was talking (well, ranting really) about this on his show.

Pat

Red Flag 1
12-02-2009, 18:47
Mark Levin was talking (well, ranting really) about this on his show.

Pat

A great start!!

RF 1

caveman
12-02-2009, 21:39
Will there be an opportunity to donate to the legal fund or will this case be picked up by one of the good guy legal organizations?

CoLawman
12-03-2009, 07:08
Reading his MOH citation was like reading a Chuck Norris script!

If someone finds a link for a legal defense fund please post.

Richard
12-03-2009, 08:05
It was on the local area news there.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/FLAG031_20091202-234201/309270/

Richard

BryanK
12-03-2009, 08:12
People obviously have nothing else better to do with their time. No respect at all. I bet if the flagpole had a dumb ass holiday flag as opposed to the U.S. flag, there wouldn't be an issue. Maybe a "Happy Eid-al-Adha" flag would've went over better. :mad:

HOLLiS
12-03-2009, 09:04
Just sent a link to this page to Lars Larson who has both a regional and national radio talk show.
I'm proud to say Lars has been here in the shop, he's one of the good guys.

2X here, Good idea is to spread the news.

Sort of having a penchant for the American Civil War let me also add;

"Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom
We will rally from the hillside
We'll gather from the plains,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!"

Team Sergeant
12-03-2009, 09:07
I have a low tolerance for media morons.

The proper term is Medal of Honor "recipient", not "winner".

Soldiers, sailors and Marines do not "win" medals, that would be the Olympics.

War is not a f***ing game.

This is how NYC became stupid, believing everything the NYT's wrote/published.

Write the media morons and correct them.

Team Sergeant

Utah Bob
12-03-2009, 13:24
I have a low tolerance for media morons.

The proper term is Medal of Honor "recipient", not "winner".

Soldiers, sailors and Marines do not "win" medals, that would be the Olympics.

War is not a f***ing game.

This is how NYC became stupid, believing everything the NYT's wrote/published.

Write the media morons and correct them.

Team Sergeant


CNN actually called him a Medal of Honor recipient about 10 minutes ago. I guess someone got through to them.

greenberetTFS
12-03-2009, 13:54
You know for me, it's hard to believe that this is really happening to this guy,WTF is going on in this country? .....................:(:(:(

Big Teddy :munchin

The Reaper
12-03-2009, 14:59
You now for me, it's hard to believe that this is really happening to this guy,WTF is going on in this country? .....................:(:(:(

Big Teddy :munchin

Political Correctness, baby.

No right to display anything that might offend anyone, unless it is supported by the left-wing.

If he wanted to make his wife wear a hijab, that would be protected.

TR

FXCOfire
12-03-2009, 20:05
The media attention appears to be working. It looks as if my trip out of downtown Richmond will wait....

http://www.nbc12.com/global/story.asp?s=11617342

and for a local blog's view ( Onion-style )

http://tarichmond.com/2009/12/03/vet-supporters-call-on-homeowners-association-to-remove-heads-from-asses/

lindy
12-04-2009, 18:27
I wonder what would happen if the President weighed in on this issue in favor of Col. Barfoot. If he can comment on someone breaking the law, imagine the media attention if he were to come out and say "the HOA acted stupidly in citing somebody when there was proof that they risked their life for our freedom. He has earned the right to fly our flag."

To say something like that takes courage, so we'll never hear it from Him.

6.8SPC_DUMP
12-09-2009, 12:51
RICHMOND, Va. — 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.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579773,00.html?test=latestnews

PedOncoDoc
12-09-2009, 12:55
This is excellent news. It's nice to finally see evidence in the MSM that respect for our elders and heroes, patriotism and common sense still exist...