WW II Vet Fights for His Flagpole

[DearAbby]

(Dec. 3) -- Every morning, Medal of Honor winner Col. Van T. Barfoot raises the American flag in front of his home in suburban Richmond, Va. Every sunset, he takes it down. Now his neighborhood's governing board says the stars and stripes are fine, but Barfoot's flagpole must go.

In July, the Sussex Square homeowners association denied Barfoot's request to erect the 21-foot pole, ruling that it violated the community's aesthetic guidelines, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. But the 90-year-old Army vet put it up anyway and has been flying the flag daily since Veterans Day. On Tuesday, he received a letter ordering him to remove the pole by Friday or face legal action.

The board does allow flags to fly from small poles mounted on homes. Barfoot doesn't understand why a free-standing pole is forbidden.

"Where I've been, fighting wars, displaying the flag, military installations, parades, everything else, the flag is vertical. And I've done it that way since I was in the Army," he told the newspaper.

Barfoot received the Medal of Honor for his battlefield heroics in Italy during World War II. He also fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars. News of his fight to save the flagpole has generated offers of support from fellow vets, the newspaper reported, but Barfoot's neighbors are split over the issue.

Link:
http://news.aol.com/article/world-war-ii-veteran-van-t-barfoot/799414

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. Jesus H Christ!

Why people have to waste so much energy and time on crap lik ethis is beyond me. Let the guy fly his flag from his flagpole. He is NINETY years old and a Medal of Honor winner.

[snagglepuss]

2. +100000

[DearAbby]

4. +1

[lapfog_1]

3. He's freakin Medal of Honor winner.

Let him fly his flag wherever and however he wants.

edit to add: MOST people that win the Medal of Honor DIE while doing so.

[proteus_lives]

7. You're right.

I believe it's military nick-name is "the coffin-handle".

[proteus_lives]

5. That man deserves his flagpole. Read his Medal of Honor Citiation.

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

The Sussex Square HOA can go straight to hell!

[jtylerpittman]

8. wow

this guy is a bad ass

[jtylerpittman]

9. wow

this guy is a bad ass

[jtylerpittman]

6. why are people trying to stop him

who ever is fighting him should get a life

[lpbk2713]

10. If I were looking to buy a new home ...

I would want to know if there is a HOA. And that would be a deal killer.

[Cirque du So-What]

11. That homeowner's association needs to pick its battles more carefully

Homeowner's associations have gotten out of hand all over the country, and this farcical dance could be played out just about anywhere. Doesn't the association have the wherewithal to actually change a guideline once it's been adopted? Pride is a likely factor at play; none of the association members wants to admit the possibility that they adopted a stoopid standard in the first place.

[SoCalDem]

13. I'm no fan of HOAs, BUT no one forces anyone to buy there

just as people are not forced to buy a home near a longtime airport, but people still decide later to sue..for noise:)

Rules & regs have to be broad, so that most circumstances can be addressed, without having to single out one person..and every timwe someone violates a rule, I'd bet that they think.. "that rule does not mean me"..

[Cirque du So-What]

15. I agree with what you're saying

but I'm suggesting that homeowner's associations make too many rules in the first place. I saw an article recently that mentioned regulations that forbid clotheslines. IMO, his flagpole falls into the same category of additions that don't detract from anyone else's enjoyment of their own property and don't decrease property values either.

I'm not a libertarian or an anarchist. I believe there are plenty of good reasons to have rules & regulations, but when it comes to dictating what individuals can do with their own property, there is no need for guidelines that require everyone's residence to be cookie-cutter boring.

[SoCalDem]

17. clotheslines are an eyesore to many people because it's tacky

to see people's underwear flapping in the breeze.. We have become used to not seeing clothes hanging on the line, and clotheslines also attract birds who will then poop on the clean clothes, if they get a chance:)

Who gets to decide what is "tasteful" enough to be on a clothesline? sheets & towels= ok..but sexy lingerie= not ok?

HOAs deal with it by just not "allowing" it.. I do know people who have the retractable kind that attaches to the corner of their house (in the backyard) and connects to the side of their yard building..so no one's the wiser:)

Just as many HOAs forbid campers, because all campers are not equal, and by forbidding them all, they do not have to "dis" anyone's beloved home-on-wheels:)

They make many generic rules so they do not have to be specifically "ruling" on a multiple of issues, and risk making enemies:)

[SoCalDem]

12. Boundary -pushers abound.. I guess people like to see their name in the paper

If there's a 20ft. limit, there will always be someone who decides they "need" a 21ft whatever..

I guess it keeps lawyers busy, and keeps letter-writing/petition-signing going on.. and of course there's usually a cute little kid or an aged veteran, or maybe a handicapped person, or a single Mom at the fore..or a baby..

[guitar man]

14. Fucking HOAs

That's why I won't live where there is one....I love my rural property ;)

[RedRocco]

16. HOA should give him a variance

[gratuitous]

21. He'd have to apply for one

Taking up the contrarian view, the HOA enforces its rules for a very good reason: If you let one transgression slide, pretty soon you have a whole pack of transgressions, some greater, some lesser. Why can't Mr. Barfoot fly his flag from a pole mounted on his house, like everyone else in the development has agreed to do?

One of the reasons people choose to live in a defined community is that all the properties conform to the same aesthetic standard. The people of the community have opted for a certain defined aesthetic, which Mr. Barfoot knew about, but chose to violate anyway. Now he's hiding behind his uniform to cry about being discriminated against for his failure to follow the rules, knowing full well that there is no shortage of folks who will flock to his defense in the land of the High Church of Redemptive Violence.

Take down the flagpole, soldier boy.

[guruoo]

18. They can make an exception.

[OneBlueSky]

19. they're picking a fight with a 90-year-old Medal of Honor winner? . . .

dumb, dumb, dumb . . . no way they win this one, at least in the court of public opinion . . .

[COLGATE4]

20. Basing the outcome on admiration for the Plaintiff

makes for bad law and bad outcomes. Notwithstanding his heroism, (which I like everyone else applauds and thanks him for), it appears that the Colonel intended to pick a fight from the git go. It has been reported that he asked about putting up his 21 foot flagpole before buying the property, and was told that the HOA rules prohibited it. He decided to go ahead and do it anyway. Under other circumstances, the definition for this is "scofflaw". Whether you or I feel that the rules set up by an HOA are fair, when we purchase we sign a contract which binds us to respect and comply with them. The Colonel did neither. His Medal of Honor sets him apart from most military persons, but it does not grant him an exemption from rules which he freely and willingly agreed to.