Is there anything in America as hated as the Home Owners Association? I really can’t think of one. There should be a nationwide poll. Something ridiculous so America’s HOAs can see how much they are hated. Something like this:
90 year-old Colonel Van Barfoot isn’t budging:
Barfoot lives in the Sussex Square community in western Henrico County. He moved there in July, and was ordered to remove the flagpole from his front lawn when he flew the flag on Labor Day, and again on Veterans Day.
The homeowner’s association doesn’t explicitly forbid flagpoles but they must be “aesthetically appropriate”. Short flags are allowed on porches, but Barfoot says that’s not the way he was raised to respect the flag.
“First of all, it’s not dignified, and it shows you got it in the half mast position… you can walk around here and I’ll bet you the American flag is hanging out in the rain, nobody ever checks it”, says Barfoot.
Family members say he’s the most decorated American combat veteran alive. Barfoot has been awared more than 20 medals, including the Medal of Honor, The Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.
Wounded in combat three times, Barfoot fought in World War II and in Vietnam.
Generally, as much as it pains me, I find myself siding with the HOA. People sign contracts before they move into the neighborhood governed by the association, so they know what they are getting into. But, as noted above, “The homeowner’s association doesn’t explicitly forbid flagpoles…” They just have to be “aesthetically appropriate.”
If this goes to court, I’m thinking Col. Barfoot wins.
What do you think?
